Innate Immune Cell Circuits and Dendritic Cell Biology in Allograft Rejection and Tolerance Induction

Innate immune activation is a critical determinant of transplant outcome, contributing not only to allograft rejection but also to the establishment and maintenance of immune tolerance. Dendritic cells, monocytes, macrophages, natural killer cells, and other myeloid populations respond rapidly to tissue injury, ischemia-reperfusion, and alloantigens, thereby shaping the subsequent adaptive immune response. Depending on their activation state, differentiation, and local microenvironment, these cells can amplify graft inflammation or promote immune regulation and tissue repair. Yet most current immunosuppressive strategies are centered on controlling T cell activation and do not directly address many of the innate immune circuits that influence graft fate. Given the limitations and systemic toxicities of chronic immunosuppression, a better understanding of how innate immune cells regulate both rejection and tolerance may reveal new strategies to achieve more durable and selective immune control after transplantation.This Research Topic aims to bring together studies that define how innate immune cell networks, with particular emphasis on dendritic cell biology, shape the balance between allograft rejection and transplant tolerance. A major challenge in the field is to move beyond viewing innate immunity as a uniform inflammatory response and instead understand the distinct cellular states, signaling pathways, and cell-cell interactions that determine graft outcome. We are particularly interested in work that clarifies how dendritic cells and other innate immune populations sense tissue injury and alloantigens, communicate with adaptive immune cells, and either sustain pathogenic immunity or support regulatory and tolerogenic responses. This collection seeks to identify conserved immune circuits and actionable pathways that may be targeted to prevent rejection, promote tolerance, and improve long-term graft survival.We welcome contributions exploring the role of innate immune cells in transplant rejection, immune regulation, and tolerance induction. Areas of interest include: &#8226 Dendritic cell development and function&#8226 Monocyte and macrophage responses&#8226 Natural killer cell biology&#8226 Antigen presentation and innate-adaptive immune crosstalk&#8226 Ischemia-reperfusion injury&#8226 Tissue-resident and graft-infiltrating myeloid populations&#8226 Innate immune checkpoints&#8226 Pathways that promote either inflammatory or tolerogenic immune states. Studies using single-cell, spatial, multi-omic, and other emerging approaches to define innate immune heterogeneity and cellular interactions are particularly encouraged. We also welcome work addressing therapeutic strategies that selectively modulate innate immunity, as well as studies in allotransplantation and relevant xenotransplantation models. Original Research, Reviews, Mini Reviews, Perspectives, and other article types that provide mechanistic or translational insight into these areas are encouraged.Topic Editor Thiago Borges received investigator-initiated grant support from eGenesis, Inc. The other Topic Editors report no competing interests related to this Research Topic. Topic editors: Thiago J Borges, Karina Lima, Patrick Michael Reeves Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/86169/innate-immune-cell-circuits-and-dendritic-cell-biology-in-allograft-rejection-and-tolerance-induction