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Mucosal Immunity and Autoimmune Diseases: New Perspectives From Mechanisms to Treatment

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Autoimmune diseases (ADs) impose a significant and growing burden on global health. Emerging studies indicate that dysregulation of the mucosal immunity is not merely a consequence of disease progression but often represents a critical sentinel event that triggers autoimmune responses. This review explores a paradigm shift in the understanding of ADs pathogenesis, moving away from an exclusive emphasis on systemic immune imbalance towards a perspective centered on mucosal immune abnormalities characterized by mucosal barrier dysfunction and microbiota dysbiosis. We synthesize the principal mechanisms through which mucosal immunity contributes to the onset and progression of ADs and critically evaluate emerging therapeutic strategies. These insights offer new opportunities for precision medicine approaches that intervene at the mucosal origins of ADs.

Source: British Journal of Hospital Medicine

DOI: 10.31083/bjhm52971

Authors: Hai-Fen Wei, Harry Asena Musonye, Sha-Sha Tao, Hai-Feng Pan

Institution: Anhui Medical University

Language: English

Topic: T-cell and B-cell Immunology

Subfield: Immunology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China