B cells and the microbiota: a missing connection in food allergy

Mucosal Immunol. 2021 Jan;14(1):4-13. doi: 10.1038/s41385-020-00350-x. Epub 2020 Oct 26.

Abstract

Food allergies are a major public health concern due to their widespread and rising prevalence. The increase in food allergy is partially due to Western lifestyle habits which deplete protective commensal microbiota. These microbial perturbations can result in adverse host-microbe interactions, altering the phenotype of various immune cells and instigating allergic sensitization. Although B cells are critical to allergic pathology, microbial influences on B cells have been somewhat overlooked. Here, we focus on direct and indirect interactions between bacteria and B cells and how such interactions regulate B-cell phenotype, namely antibody production (IgA, IgE, IgG1, and IgG4) and regulatory B-cell (Breg) function. Understanding how microbes modulate B-cell activity in the context of food allergies is critical to both tracing the development of disease and assessing future treatment options.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibody Formation / immunology
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Disease Susceptibility* / immunology
  • Food Hypersensitivity / diagnosis
  • Food Hypersensitivity / etiology*
  • Food Hypersensitivity / metabolism
  • Host Microbial Interactions
  • Humans
  • Microbiota / immunology*