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Immune system regulation in the kidneys

Guest Editor

Kevin Woollard, PhD, Imperial College London, UK

BMC Nephrology sought submissions on the modulation and regulation of the immune system in the kidneys, aiming to deepen our understanding of immune-mediated acute and chronic kidney diseases and identify potential therapeutic targets. We invited researchers to contribute their work on immune cell populations, immunomodulatory mechanisms, and regulatory immune cells within the renal microenvironment, with the goal of advancing our knowledge of immune system regulation in the context of kidney health and disease.

New Content ItemThis Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing.

Meet the Guest Editor

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Kevin Woollard, PhD, Imperial College London, UK

Dr Kevin Woollard obtained his PhD in immunology and continued postdoctoral studies in Melbourne and London investigating novel biology in cardiovascular inflammation and macrophage heterogeneity. In 2012, he started his own lab at Imperial College London, focused on kidney diseases, glomerular inflammation and cardiorenal biology. In 2019, he joined AstraZeneca R&D Biopharmaceuticals (Cambridge, UK) as team leader and Senior Principal Scientist. Focused on cardiovascular, renal, and metabolism early target discovery and validation and delivering new medicines to improve chronic and acute kidney diseases, as well as comorbidity associated with cardio and metabolic diseases.

About the Collection

BMC Nephrology invited submissions to our Collection on Immune system regulation in the kidneys.

Immune system regulation can play an important role in kidney function, with intricate mechanisms governing the interaction between the renal system and immune cells. Understanding the modulation and regulation of the immune system within the kidneys is essential for comprehending the pathophysiology of renal inflammation and immune-mediated kidney diseases. Research in this area encompasses the study of immune cell populations, immunosuppressive functions, and the maintenance of immune homeostasis within the renal microenvironment.

Advancing our collective understanding of immune system regulation in the kidneys is vital for identifying the underlying mechanisms of renal inflammation and immune-mediated kidney diseases. Recent advances have revealed the pivotal role of regulatory immune cells in maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing excessive immune activation within the kidneys. Furthermore, studies have highlighted the complex interplay between immune cells and renal cells, shedding light on the mechanisms of immune-mediated kidney injury and potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

Looking ahead, continued research in this area holds the potential for uncovering novel immunomodulatory pathways and therapeutic targets for immune-mediated kidney diseases. Future advances may include the development of targeted immunotherapies aimed at restoring immune homeostasis within the inflamed kidney microenvironment, as well as the identification of biomarkers for early detection and monitoring of immune-mediated kidney diseases.

Topics of interest included, but were not limited to:

  • Immune cell populations in the kidneys
  • Immunomodulatory mechanisms in renal inflammation
  • Regulatory T cells and immune homeostasis in the kidneys
  • Immune-mediated kidney diseases
  • Role of dendritic cells in renal immune regulation
  • The impact of gut microbiota on renal immune responses
  • Novel immunotherapies for immune-mediated kidney diseases
  • Crosstalk between innate and adaptive immune cells in renal inflammation
  • The influence of aging on immune regulation in the kidneys


This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing.

Image credit: © Rasi Bhadramani / Getty Images / iStock

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Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Immune system regulation in the kidneys" from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.