Immune Cell Dynamics in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases and Cancer Immunopathology

Immune cells play fundamental roles in the development, progression, and resolution of both chronic inflammatory diseases and various cancer types. In immune-mediated diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), dysregulated immune cell activation and impaired resolution mechanisms drive persistent tissue inflammation. Meanwhile, in the context of cancer, immune cells can either support anti-tumor responses or contribute to immune escape depending on their activation state, localization, and interactions with the tumor microenvironment. Recent research highlights that immune cell plasticity, metabolic adaptation, and functional reprogramming are central to these divergent outcomes.

Despite being distinct clinical entities, immune-mediated diseases and immune-related cancers share common immunopathological features, such as sustained immune activation, altered cytokine profiles, and checkpoint molecule expression. Understanding the dynamics of immune cell states across these conditions can shed light on their shared and disease-specific pathways. This Topic aims to provide a platform to explore the regulatory networks underlying immune cell function and their translational relevance to immunotherapeutic development.

The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a comprehensive forum for exploring how immune cell dynamics—including differentiation, plasticity, metabolic adaptation, and functional reprogramming—shape disease outcomes in immune-mediated diseases and immune-related cancers. By clarifying the mechanisms that govern immune cell behavior across inflammatory and tumor contexts, we aim to uncover both convergent and divergent pathways of immunopathology. This collection of articles seeks to integrate studies on immune regulation, tissue-specific immune responses, checkpoint signaling, and the impact of the microenvironment, with an emphasis on translational potential. We particularly encourage submissions that bridge basic and clinical immunology, including work on disease-specific immune signatures, immunotherapy responsiveness, and novel targets for immune modulation. By bringing together insights from chronic inflammation and tumor immunology, this Research Topic aims to promote cross-disciplinary understanding and foster innovation in therapeutic development.

We welcome submissions across immunology, pathology, and translational medicine that address the following themes:

• Regulation of immune cell activation, differentiation, and exhaustion in chronic inflammation or cancer
• Functional plasticity of dendritic cells, macrophages, T cells, and B cells in disease progression
• Immune metabolic reprogramming and its impact on immune cell function
• Checkpoint molecule expression and immune dysfunction in tumor and inflamed tissues
• Tissue-specific immune signatures in gut, joint, skin, or tumor microenvironments
• Mechanisms linking chronic inflammation to tumor initiation or progression
• Novel immunotherapeutic strategies targeting immune cell reprogramming or checkpoint pathways
• Preclinical and clinical studies evaluating immune-targeted interventions
• Systems immunology and single-cell approaches to map immune cell states
• Use of in vivo models to dissect immune dynamics and therapy response


Submissions may include original research or reviews that enhance our understanding of immune regulation in disease and provide insights into innovative immune-targeted therapies.

Please note that manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by robust and relevant validation (clinical cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this Research Topic.