Lipid Metabolism in Tumor-Associated B Cells

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2021:1316:133-147. doi: 10.1007/978-981-33-6785-2_9.

Abstract

Breakthroughs have been made in the cancer immunotherapy field focusing on utilizing T cells' antitumor immunity, and the lipid metabolism of tumor-associated B cells is not well studied compared to T cells. Accumulating evidence suggested that B cells also play important roles in tumor biology and antitumor immunity, especially the germinal center B cells that present in the tumor-related tertiary lymphoid structures. Due to scarce studies on lipid metabolisms of tumor-associated B cells, this chapter mainly summarized findings on B cell lipid metabolism and discussed B cell development and major transcription factors, tumor-associated B cell populations and their potential functions in antitumor immunity, fatty acid oxidation in germinal center B cells, and tumor microenvironment factors that potentially affect B cell lipid metabolism, focusing on hypoxia and nutrients competition, as well as lipid metabolites that affect B cell function, including cholesterol, geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, oxysterols, and short-chain fatty acids.

Keywords: B cells; Cancer; Cholesterol; Germinal center; Lipid metabolism.

MeSH terms

  • B-Lymphocytes
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy
  • Lipid Metabolism*
  • Neoplasms*
  • Tumor Microenvironment