Skip to main content

Call for papers - Liver autoimmune disease

Guest Editors

Alessandro Granito, MD, University of Bologna, Italy
Alexander Miethke, MD, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, USA
Vincenzo Ronca, MD, Humanitas University, Italy

Submission Status: Open   |   Submission Deadline: 20 December 2024

BMC Gastroenterology is calling for submissions to our Collection, Liver autoimmune disease. We welcome papers exploring immunological mechanisms underlying autoimmune liver diseases, emerging biomarkers and diagnostic tools, management of liver transplantation in autoimmune liver disease patients, quality of life and patient perspectives, and epidemiology and population studies. 


New Content ItemThis Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being

Meet the Guest Editors

Back to top

Alessandro Granito, MD, University of Bologna, Italy

Dr Alessandro Granito is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences at the University of Bologna, affiliated with the IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, at the S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital in Bologna, Italy. Dr Granito's primary focus areas include autoimmune liver diseases such as Autoimmune Hepatitis, Primary Biliary Cholangitis, and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. Additionally, he has made contributions to the study of Celiac disease, autoimmune enteropathy, Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) diagnosis and treatment, as well as HCV and HBV-related liver diseases.

Alexander Miethke, MD, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, USA

Dr Alexander Miethke is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics, PI of the U01 Childhood Liver Disease Research Network (ChiLDReN), Medical Director of the Pediatric Liver Care Center, the Liver Transplant Program, and of the Center for Autoimmune Liver Disease (CALD) at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC). Dr Miethke has developed an independent research program on the role of regulatory T cells in the pathogenesis of cholestatic liver diseases with funding from foundations and the NIDDK. His basic work is complemented by his contributions as investigator to the ChiLDReN with focus on translational studies in Biliary Atresia, Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis (PFIC) syndromes, Mitochondrial Hepatopathy, and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC). 

Vincenzo Ronca, MD, Humanitas University, Italy

Dr Vincenzo Ronca, an Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at Humanitas University and a liver consultant at Humanitas Research Hospital, focuses his clinical and research interests on autoimmune liver diseases, covering both clinical and translational aspects. His interest lies in hepatic immunotolerance, particularly in autoimmunity and liver transplant contexts. Dr Ronca's past experience as EMBO visiting fellow at Sagakuchi's lab in Osaka University and at the Liver Lab in the University of Birmingham has sharpened his immunology expertise. He applies this knowledge to his current work on understanding the role of T cells in the pathogenesis of autoimmune hepatitis and autoimmune cholangiopathies.

About the Collection

BMC Gastroenterology is calling for submissions to our Collection, Liver autoimmune disease. 

Autoimmune liver diseases represent a significant challenge in the field of gastroenterology, impacting the health and well-being of countless individuals worldwide. From primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) to primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and overlap syndromes, these conditions often present complex diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. As our understanding of the immunological mechanisms behind these disorders deepens, so does the potential for novel diagnostic tools and targeted therapies.

Continuing to advance our collective understanding of liver autoimmune diseases is of significant importance for several reasons. Firstly, autoimmune liver diseases often present as chronic conditions, and their early detection and effective management are crucial for preventing progression to advanced stages, which can lead to cirrhosis and liver failure. Secondly, the interdisciplinary collaboration between gastroenterologists and immunologists has already yielded significant breakthroughs in the field. Such collaboration has led to the development of non-invasive biomarkers, like serological panels and imaging modalities, which have greatly enhanced early diagnosis and monitoring. Furthermore, recent therapeutic advancements, such as the use of immune modulators and biologics, have transformed the treatment landscape. By continuing this research, we may uncover novel immunological targets, more precise diagnostic tools, and personalized treatment strategies tailored to individual patient profiles. This has the potential to revolutionize the management of liver autoimmune diseases, offering hope for improved outcomes and a higher quality of life for affected individuals in the future.

This Collection will showcase research exploring liver autoimmune diseases, including but not limited to: 

  • Autoimmune hepatitis diagnosis
  • Liver inflammation mechanisms
  • Immune response in liver
  • Genetic factors in liver autoimmunity
  • Liver-specific autoantigens
  • Immunotherapy for liver autoimmunity
  • Liver biopsy in autoimmune diseases
  • Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis
  • Autoimmune liver disease symptoms
  • Advances in liver autoimmunity research


This collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being


Image credit: Mohammed Haneefa Nizamudeen / Getty Images / iStock

  1. Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a complex disease with pathogenic mechanisms that remain to be elucidated. Previous observational studies with small sample sizes have reported associations between PSC,...

    Authors: Jie Zhou, Dagang Zhu, Yixin Xu, Chao Chen and Kun Wang
    Citation: BMC Gastroenterology 2024 24:158
    Content type: Research Published on:

  2. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) was considered rare but is increasing with prolonged prognosis. Its impact on the overall prognosis of AIH is unknown, and treatment has not been es...

    Authors: Tomoko Tadokoro, Takako Nomura, Koji Fujita, Takushi Manabe, Kei Takuma, Mai Nakahara, Kyoko Oura, Shima Mimura, Joji Tani, Asahiro Morishita, Hideki Kobara, Masafumi Ono and Tsutomu Masaki
    Citation: BMC Gastroenterology 2024 24:123
    Content type: Research Published on:

Submission Guidelines

Back to top

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 "Liver autoimmune disease" 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.