Immune metabolism regulation of the germinal center response

• Main Authors: Seung-Chul Choi, Laurence Morel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nature Publishing Group 2020-03-01
• Series: Experimental and Molecular Medicine
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-020-0392-2

Adaptive immunity: Metabolic pathways need further investigation Studies of the metabolic mechanisms involved in antibody production will inform vaccine design and autoimmune disease treatments. Germinal centers (GCs) are transient sites in lymph nodes and the spleen, formed when white blood cells called T-cell lymphocytes respond to infection. GCs act as factories where another lymphocyte group, B cells, proliferates and mutates before producing infection-appropriate antibodies. GCs therefore play a critical role in adaptive immunity, but the metabolic pathways involved are unclear. Laurence Morel and Seung-Chui Choi at the University of Florida, Gainesville, USA, reviewed understanding of the metabolic pathways used by T cells, B cells and the antibodies they produce. The cells within GCs require different energy sources and metabolic pathways according to their developmental stage, to ensure optimal immune responses. The researchers call for extensive profiling of this complex metabolic system.