Immune metabolism regulation of the germinal center response

The humoral immune response requires germinal centers to produce high-affinity antigen-specific antibodies that counter pathogens. Numerous studies have provided a better understanding of how metabolic pathways regulate the development, activation and functions of immune cells. Germinal centers are transient, highly dynamic microanatomic structures that develop in lymphoid organs during a T-cell-dependent humoral immune response. Analysis of germinal centers provides an opportunity to understand how metabolic programs control the differentiation and function of highly specialized germinal center B cells and follicular helper CD4⁺ T cells. Targeting immunometabolism during the germinal center response may afford the possibility to improve vaccine design and to develop new therapies to alleviate autoimmunity. In this review, we discuss the major metabolic pathways that are used by germinal center B and T cells, as well as the plasma cells that they produce, all of which are influenced by the microenvironment of this unique structure of the adaptive immune system.