Metabolic control of B cells: more questions than answers

It is now accepted that metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity are characterized by alterations in immune cells. Indeed, immune cells have been shown to play a critical role in fueling the inflammation that accompanies increased fat deposition and insulin resistance. Both the innate (macrophages) and the adaptive arm (CD4 and CD8 T cells, in particular) significantly contribute to the chronic inflammatory state that characterizes these conditions. B cells, however, have until recently remained significantly understudied. This is not due to the fact that they do not play as significant a role, as more recent publications appear to show. Here, we briefly review the most recent literature and highlight the remaining outstanding questions. © 2015 Capasso, Rashed Alyahyawi and Spear.