Synergy and Antagonism of Classical Molecular Pathways in Immune Inflammatory Responses

The study of immune inflammatory responses centers on the intricate molecular pathways that both initiate and modulate these processes. Inflammation is driven by a network of signaling pathways including NF-κB, MAPK, JAK-STAT, NLRP3 inflammasome, and the complement system, which orchestrate cellular responses to infection and tissue injury. In recent years, a growing body of evidence has highlighted the tight regulatory balance managed by the interplay—whether synergistic or antagonistic—of these pathways. Moreover, emerging research points to the cGAS-STING axis as a vital conduit not only in traditional immune regulation but also in domains extending to cancer, metabolism, aging, neurodegenerative, and autoimmune diseases. Despite advances, critical gaps remain in our understanding of how these pathways integrate inputs to tailor responses across diverse contexts and how they contribute to both normal physiology and pathological states.This Research Topic aims to clarify the complex synergistic and antagonistic interplay between classical molecular pathways in regulating immune inflammatory responses. Core objectives include dissecting the mechanisms that govern the initiation, amplification, and attenuation of inflammation as well as illuminating the dualistic nature of inflammatory processes—protective in host defense and tissue repair, yet also central to disease pathogenesis. Additionally, this topic seeks to explore how the cGAS-STING pathway integrates with other classical signals across different diseases and to provide a theoretical foundation for developing targeted interventions that precisely modulate inflammation without undermining essential immune functions.To gather further insights into the regulatory networks and inter-pathway dynamics underlying immune inflammatory responses, we welcome contributions that focus on selected facets of molecular signaling crosstalk, with special emphasis on both canonical and emerging pathways. We invite articles that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:• The role of the Wnt signaling pathway in autoimmune diseases• The MAPK cascade's influence on cell growth, immunity, inflammation, and cancer• Crosstalk between the NF-κB signaling pathway and the tumor microenvironment• The involvement of the STING-inflammasome axis in autoimmune and inflammation-related disorders• Synergistic and antagonistic molecular mechanisms of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in inflammatory diseases• Mechanistic insights into the interaction and hierarchy among innate immune pathways• Strategies for precise therapeutic modulation of inflammation through pathway targeting• The contribution of cGAS-STING signaling in non-infectious pathological contexts Topic editors: Xuehai Ou, Zijia Tao, Danyang Li, Omar Ahmed Abdelwahab Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77688/synergy-and-antagonism-of-classical-molecular-pathways-in-immune-inflammatory-responses