Editor-in-Chief
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With the advent of techniques for molecular biology, cell biology, and molecular genetics, we have witnessed great progress in immunology in the last two decades of the twentieth century. The mystery of the diverse repertoire of antigen receptors and the molecular basis of T cell recognition have been uncovered. The obscure nature of the factors involved in immune responses has turned into the reality of pure molecules. A wealth of cell surface molecules, including cytokine receptors, has been cloned and characterized in detail. These achievements facilitated the establishment of the framework of signaling pathways starting from the cell surface to the nucleus. Above all, gene targeting technology has provided an abundance of novel information as to the functions of these molecules participating in the immune system.
However, we are still far from understanding the complete picture of not only the pathogenesis of complex immunological conditions such as autoimmune and allergic diseases, but also immune reactions against infectious pathogens and cancers. The total picture will be drawn not simply as a collection of parts obtained from a reductionist approach, but as a sophisticated interacting system which combats the non-self including bacteria, viruses, and tumors. I would like to emphasize that even today one large, long-lasting question in immunology remains unanswered, and that is, Why does the immune system overreact in one condition (autoimmune disease), but become quiet in other conditions (tolerance and anergy)? Our knowledge of microbial immunology is rapidly expanding; nevertheless, even now infectious diseases still cause significant morbidity and mortality in the human population worldwide. I believe that the ultimate purpose of immunological research is to be able to manipulate immune responses at will, ultimately saving lives and improving the health of patients suffering from immunological disorders, infectious diseases, and malignancies. This, I hope, will definitely become our reality in this century.
Journals must change as science and technology progress. To provide our readers with cutting edge immunology, I intend to bring some changes to International Immunology. First, I will introduce a Fast Track section for which short papers of outstanding quality and urgency will be sent online to the editorial office and their acceptance or rejection decided rapidly. I believe this section will encourage immunologists to submit their noteworthy and timely findings to International Immunology. Second, I have reshuffled the Transmitting Editors by inviting investigators who have accomplished distinguished work in various sub-fields of immunology during these decades. Lastly, I am pleased to announce that the submission and reviewing process of our journal will be brought online later this year. I will hereby encourage researchers working in clinical and microbial immunology to publish their papers in this journal.
International Immunology is one of the prestigious journals in immunology. I expect to bring the journal to a higher standard by maintaining the previous editorial principles but also by adapting to emerging trends. I would like to close my prefatory note by paying my highest respects to Dr. Tomio Tada, who has made every endeavour to lead the journal to an outstanding position in the field for a dozen years as the first Editor-in-Chief.