B-Cell Metabolic Remodeling and Cancer

Davide G Franchina1, Melanie Grusdat1, Dirk Brenner2

  • 1Department of Infection and Immunity, Experimental and Molecular Immunology, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 29 rue Henri Koch, L-4354 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.

Trends in Cancer
|February 21, 2018
PubMed

Cells of the immune system display varying metabolic profiles to fulfill their functions. B lymphocytes overcome fluctuating energy challenges as they transition from the resting state and recirculation to activation, rapid proliferation, and massive antibody production. Only through a controlled interplay between metabolism, extracellular stimuli, and intracellular signaling can successful humoral responses be mounted. Alterations to this balance can promote malignant transformation of B cells. The metabolic control of B-cell fate is only partially understood. Here, we provide a compelling overview of the current state of the art and describe the main metabolic features of B cells during normal development and oncogenesis, with emphasis on the major B-cell transcriptional and metabolic regulators, including myelocytomatosis virus oncogene cellular homolog (Myc) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α (HIF-1α).

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