Heat shock proteins (HSPs), also known as “stress proteins,” are among the highly conserved and immunogenic proteins shared among diverse groups of microbial agents and mammals. Under physiological conditions, the ubiquitously distributed HSPs maintain the integrity and function of other cellular proteins under stressful conditions. However, HSPs also can become targets of immune response, resulting in immune pathology and clinical manifestations of autoimmunity. Importantly, HSPs are also capable of inducing immune responses that are immunoregulatory in nature, and certain HSPs can mediate resolution of the inflammatory responses. The main focus of this special issue will be on studies that advance our understanding of the role of HSPs in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity through induction/propagation as well as regulation/resolution of the disease-related processes. Also emphasized will be studies describing the use of HSPs for immunotherapeutic purposes.

We invite original articles and reviews describing the results of studies involving experimental models of autoimmunity and/or patients with autoimmune diseases. Examples of the related diseases include, but are not limited to rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammatory myopathy, multiple sclerosis, and Type 1 diabetes. Potential Topics include, but are not limited to:

• Experimental models of autoimmunity that involve HSP-driven immune responses in the induction, propagation, and regulation of the disease processes
• The mechanisms describing the role of HSPs in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity, including the role of T cell vs. antibody-mediated responses, of the diversification (epitope spreading) of response
• The immunological basis of spontaneous/experimental regression of acute inflammatory autoimmune disease, including the role of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg), Tr1, and so forth
• The role of HSPs in the resolution of inflammatory responses in the course of autoimmunity
• HSP-centered immune system networks (“Immunological homunculus”)
• HSP-based strategies for immunomodulation and immunotherapy of autoimmunity.