Immunometabolism shapes B cell fate and functions

B lymphocyte-mediated humoral immune response is essential for protection against infectious diseases. Deeper research in B cell biology, particularly metabolism is required for the better understanding of its properties in homeostasis and in diseases. Emerging immunometabolism, including anabolism and catabolism, has tremendously impacts on immune cells from development to function and markedly advances our view on immunoregulation. Growing evidence suggests that the ultimate effect of intracellular metabolism on immune cell functions is not only influenced by the external stimuli but also by the balance of the different metabolic pathways. However, B cell immunometabolism is not deeply investigated like T cells. The complex development and differentiation processes of B cell subsets have left many untouched, but fundamental aspects in B cell metabolism. Available evidence demonstrated that the intracellular metabolism has the ubiquitous impact on B cell fate and function decisions at the transcriptional regulation and signal transduction processes. In this review, we update the recent development in the immunometabolism of B cells with the latest findings including the immune-metabolic steering on B cell development, differentiation, and function skewing, and emphasis on how immunometabolism landscape may shape B cell functions in metabolic, autoimmune, and inflammatory disorders. The metabolic interaction of B cells with other immune cells in disease context will also be discussed.

Automated summary

B-cell-mediated humoral immune response is crucial for protection against infectious diseases. The metabolism of B cells plays a significant role in their homeostasis, development, and function. While the impact of immunometabolism on B cells is not as deeply studied as that on T cells, there is growing evidence suggesting that intracellular metabolism influences B cell functions through transcriptional regulation and signal transduction. This review provides an update on the recent developments in B cell immunometabolism, including its role in development, differentiation, and function in metabolic, autoimmune, and inflammatory disorders.