Clocking regeneration: chrono-immunology, circadian rhythms and immunometabolic drivers of healthy aging

Aging is accompanied by a gradual decline in tissue repair, metabolic flexibility, and immune resilience, ultimately increasing vulnerability to chronic disease and regenerative failure. Recent advances in chronobiology have revealed that circadian rhythms are central regulators of these processes, orchestrating cellular metabolism, immune surveillance and tolerance, stem cell activity, and tissue homeostasis through conserved molecular clock networks. These rhythms influence more than 40% of protein-coding genes in at least one organ and generate distinct time-of-day differences in regenerative responses across tissues such as the skin, intestine, skeletal muscle, and hematopoietic system. As a result, tissue repair is increasingly understood as a temporally coordinated process shaped by interactions between local clocks, metabolism, and immune function.Disruption of circadian timing through aging, sleep disturbances, environmental stressors, or metabolic dysfunction has been increasingly implicated in chronic inflammation, mitochondrial impairment, cellular senescence, and the progressive decline of tissue regenerative capacity. Emerging evidence further suggests that dysregulation of these circadian networks alters immunometabolic signaling pathways that govern stem cell function, inflammatory resolution, immunological tolerance, autoimmunity and tissue remodeling, thereby linking metabolic imbalance to impaired tissue resilience and healthy aging. Together, these findings highlight the complex interplay between central and tissue-specific circadian regulation, immune function, and cellular metabolism in maintaining tissue homeostasis and regenerative competence across the lifespan.This Research Topic will explore the mechanistic and translational intersections among chrono-immunology, circadian biology, immunometabolism, the immunological aspects of senescence, and the role of cells of the immune system in tissue regeneration.We welcome original research, reviews, perspectives, and clinical studies addressing areas including: - Stem cell regulation and the immune system- Chrono-immunology- Mitochondrial dynamics and oxidative stress on immune cells.- SASP signaling modulation and its consequences on immune tolerance and regulation- Epigenetic control of biological clocks shaping immune responses- Therapeutic approaches to aging action by regulating immune functions- Role of cells of the immune system in tissue regeneration.By integrating chronobiology, geroscience, immunology, and regenerative biology, this collection aims to advance understanding of how temporal and metabolic networks shape tissue resilience, regeneration, and healthy longevity.***Immunological focus is required*** Topic editors: Xiaojie Wang, Miguel Martin-Perez, Thomas Mortimer Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82932/clocking-regeneration-chrono-immunology-circadian-rhythms-and-immunometabolic-drivers-of-healthy-aging