Metabolic control of B cell immune responses

Abstract

Humoral immunity critically depends on appropriate B cell responses. B cell activation, proliferation, differentiation and antibody secretion are processes carefully orchestrated by a complex network of intracellular signaling pathways and transcription factors. In order to meet the energetic and biosynthetic demands of protein synthesis and cell division, signal transduction pathways reshape the metabolic profile of activated B cells. However, the relationship between signaling and metabolism is by no means unidirectional. Emerging evidence suggests that shifts in available fuel sources and intracellular metabolite concentrations profoundly impact cell fate decisions. The reciprocal regulation of cell signaling and metabolism could potentially be exploited to curb immune dysfunction in metabolic disorders or to antagonize autoimmunity and B cell malignancies.