Journal of Inflammation Research

Multi-Layered Regulation of Inflammation: Integrating Non-Coding RNAs, Epigenomics, Single-Cell, and Spatial Transcriptomics

The Journal of Inflammation Research is pleased to welcome you to submit your research to the Article Collection "Multi-Layered Regulation of Inflammation: Integrating Non-Coding RNAs, Epigenomics, Single-Cell, and Spatial Transcriptomics".

Inflammation is a critical physiological response, yet its dysregulation underlies numerous pathologies, including autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, cancer, and cardiovascular disorders. Traditional approaches to understanding inflammatory mechanisms have proven insufficient to capture the complexity of this multifaceted process. Recent advances have revealed that inflammation is orchestrated through multiple interconnected regulatory layers, extending far beyond protein-coding genes. Non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs, serve as crucial post-transcriptional regulators of inflammatory responses. Simultaneously, epigenomic modifications establish the chromatin landscape that governs gene accessibility and expression patterns. Single-cell transcriptomics has revolutionized our ability to dissect cell-type-specific inflammatory signatures, while spatial transcriptomics preserves the critical tissue context lost in traditional profiling methods. Finally, network-based regulatory analysis and integration of various multi-omics approaches will present a broad picture of the various mechanisms of regulation of inflammation with various associated pathologies. This Article Collections welcomes contributions integrating these complementary approaches to elucidate novel regulatory mechanisms governing inflammation. By synthesizing insights across genomic, epigenomic, and cellular levels, we aim to advance understanding of inflammatory biology and identify therapeutic targets for intervention.

Understanding the multi-layered regulation of inflammation is essential for advancing precision medicine and developing targeted therapeutics. Current inflammatory disease treatments often lack efficacy due to our incomplete understanding of disease mechanisms at the molecular level. By integrating non-coding RNAs, epigenomics, single-cell, and spatial transcriptomics, we can uncover previously hidden regulatory networks controlling inflammatory responses. This integrated approach addresses critical knowledge gaps: how non-coding RNAs fine-tune inflammatory gene expression, which epigenetic modifications drive pathological inflammation, and how cell-type-specific and tissue-specific contexts influence inflammatory outcomes. Such insights are vital for identifying biomarkers for disease stratification, predicting treatment response, and discovering novel drug targets. Furthermore, this multi-modal integration reflects the reality of biological systems, where regulation operates simultaneously across multiple layers. Publications from this Collection will establish a new paradigm for inflammatory research, bridging computational and experimental methodologies to translate discoveries into clinical benefits for patients with inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases.

This Article Collection delves into inflammation, which is governed by complex, multi-layered regulatory mechanisms spanning microRNA, transcriptional, post-transcriptional, epigenetic, and spatial transcription, etc. Emerging integrative approaches combining non-coding RNA biology, epigenomics, single-cell, and spatial transcriptomics are reshaping our understanding of immune regulation and disease pathogenesis.

Potential Subtopics include but are not limited to:

• Functional roles of microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) in modulating inflammatory signalling pathways, including their impact on cytokine production, immune cell activation, and feedback regulation in acute and chronic inflammation.
• Epigenomic regulation of inflammation, focusing on DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin accessibility, and 3D genome organization that influence immune gene expression and cellular memory in inflammatory diseases.
• Single-cell transcriptomic and multi-omic profiling to dissect immune cell heterogeneity, lineage trajectories, and dynamic responses during inflammation, infection, and tissue injury.
• Spatial transcriptomics to map cellular interactions and microenvironmental niches within inflamed tissues, enabling localization of immune responses and identification of tissue-specific regulatory circuits.
• Integrative computational frameworks and multi-omics approaches to reconstruct regulatory networks, identify biomarkers, and uncover therapeutic targets in complex inflammatory disorders.

Keywords: Inflammation Regulation; Non-Coding RNAs; Epigenomics; Single-Cell Transcriptomics; Spatial Transcriptomics

Meet the Guest Advisors 

Dr. Swarna Kanchan is associated with Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, USA. He has published several peer-reviewed research articles, review articles, book chapters, and books with international publishers. He is a peer reviewer and editorial board member of international scientific journals and committees. He has delivered invited lectures and attended various conferences and workshops at national and international institutions in India, France, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, and the United States of America.

Dr. Minu Kesheri is associated with Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, USA. She has high-impact peer-reviewed international publications, including research articles, review articles, book chapters, and books. She is a peer reviewer and editorial board member of international scientific journals and committees. She has delivered invited lectures, participated in various conferences and workshops at national and international institutions in India, France, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, and the United States of America.