免疫系统是维持体内平衡的核心角色，是自身免疫和癌症这两种看似不同但又相互关联的疾病的发病机制和进展的关键因素。本章深入探讨了免疫系统（尤其是 T 细胞）在协调控制免疫监视和自我耐受之间微妙平衡的反应中所发挥的复杂而多方面的作用。 T 细胞是免疫系统的关键组成部分，在这两种疾病中都发挥着核心作用。在自身免疫中，异常的 T 细胞激活会驱动针对正常组织的破坏性免疫反应，而在癌症中，T 细胞表现出抑制的反应，从而导致恶性肿瘤生长。例如，免疫检查点受体最初是在自身免疫中探索的，现在通过免疫检查点阻断（ICB）彻底改变了癌症治疗。尽管 ICB 对多种肿瘤有效，但也会带来与自身免疫类似的免疫相关不良事件 (irAE) 的风险。本章强调了解肿瘤相关抗原及其在自身免疫、免疫检查点调节中的作用及其对这两种疾病的影响的重要性。它还探讨了癌症免疫治疗引起的自身免疫以及实体瘤和自身免疫性疾病中共享的分子途径，强调了它们在分子水平上的相互关联。此外，它还揭示了自身免疫和癌症共有的共同途径和表观遗传特征，以及重新利用药物进行治疗干预的潜力。深入研究这些见解可以解锁自身免疫和癌症的治疗策略。版权所有 © 2024。由 Elsevier Inc. 出版。

The immune system, a central player in maintaining homeostasis, emerges as a pivotal factor in the pathogenesis and progression of two seemingly disparate yet interconnected categories of diseases: autoimmunity and cancer. This chapter delves into the intricate and multifaceted role of the immune system, particularly T cells, in orchestrating responses that govern the delicate balance between immune surveillance and self-tolerance. T cells, pivotal immune system components, play a central role in both diseases. In autoimmunity, aberrant T cell activation drives damaging immune responses against normal tissues, while in cancer, T cells exhibit suppressed responses, allowing the growth of malignant tumors. Immune checkpoint receptors, example, initially explored in autoimmunity, now revolutionize cancer treatment via immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Though effective in various tumors, ICB poses risks of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) akin to autoimmunity. This chapter underscores the importance of understanding tumor-associated antigens and their role in autoimmunity, immune checkpoint regulation, and their implications for both diseases. It also explores autoimmunity resulting from cancer immunotherapy and shared molecular pathways in solid tumors and autoimmune diseases, highlighting their interconnectedness at the molecular level. Additionally, it sheds light on common pathways and epigenetic features shared by autoimmunity and cancer, and the potential of repurposing drugs for therapeutic interventions. Delving deeper into these insights could unlock therapeutic strategies for both autoimmunity and cancer.Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.