It is well-known that sex hormones can directly and indirectly influence immune cell function. Different studies support a suppressive role of androgens on different components of the immune system by decreasing antibody production, T cell proliferation, NK cytotoxicity, and stimulating the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Androgen receptors have also been detected in many different cells of hematopoietic origin leading to direct effects of their ligands on the development and function of the immune system. The immunosuppressive properties of androgens could contribute to gender dimorphisms in autoimmune and infectious disease and thereby also hamper immune surveillance of tumors. Consistently, females generally are more prone to autoimmunity, while relatively less susceptible to infections, and have lower incidence and mortality of the majority of cancers compared to males. Some studies show that androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) can induce expansion of naïve T cells and increase T-cell responses. Emerging clinical data also reveal that ADT might enhance the efficacy of various immunotherapies including immune checkpoint blockade. In this review, we will discuss the potential role of androgens and their receptors in the immune responses in the context of different diseases. A particular focus will be on cancer, highlighting the effect of androgens on immune surveillance, tumor biology and on the efficacy of anti-cancer therapies including emerging immune therapies.

众所周知，性激素可以直接和间接影响免疫细胞功能。不同的研究通过减少抗体产生，T细胞增殖，NK细胞毒性和刺激抗炎细胞因子的产生来支持雄激素对免疫系统不同成分的抑制作用。还已经在造血起源的许多不同细胞中检测到雄激素受体，从而导致其配体对免疫系统的发育和功能的直接作用。雄激素的免疫抑制特性可能导致自身免疫和传染病中的性别二态性，从而也阻碍了肿瘤的免疫监测。一致地，女性通常更倾向于自身免疫，而相对较不容易受到感染，与男性相比，大多数癌症的发病率和死亡率均较低。一些研究表明，雄激素剥夺疗法（ADT）可以诱导幼稚T细胞扩增并增加T细胞反应。新兴的临床数据还显示，ADT可能会增强包括免疫检查点封锁在内的各种免疫疗法的功效。在这篇综述中，我们将讨论在不同疾病背景下雄激素及其受体在免疫应答中的潜在作用。重点将放在癌症上，强调雄激素对免疫监视，肿瘤生物学的作用以及对包括新兴免疫疗法在内的抗癌疗法的功效。新兴的临床数据还显示，ADT可能会增强包括免疫检查点封锁在内的各种免疫疗法的功效。在这篇综述中，我们将讨论在不同疾病背景下雄激素及其受体在免疫应答中的潜在作用。一个特别的重点将放在癌症上，强调雄激素对免疫监视，肿瘤生物学的作用以及对包括新兴免疫疗法在内的抗癌疗法的功效。新兴的临床数据还显示，ADT可能会增强包括免疫检查点封锁在内的各种免疫疗法的功效。在这篇综述中，我们将讨论在不同疾病背景下雄激素及其受体在免疫应答中的潜在作用。一个特别的重点将放在癌症上，强调雄激素对免疫监视，肿瘤生物学的作用以及对包括新兴免疫疗法在内的抗癌疗法的功效。