Insulin Resistance as a Potential Mechanism of B cell Dysfunction during obesity

Hyperinsulinemia is a hallmark of metabolic syndrome. However, the impact of insulin signaling on immune function is only beginning to be understood.

The expression of functional insulin receptors on several immune cell types has been confirmed recently. These include T cells, B cells, macrophages, among others. While we know that insulin signaling promotes T cell-mediated immune responses, we do not presently know what its effects are on B cells.

B cells constitute an important arm of adaptive immunity and participate in shaping an anti-viral immune response. B cell-mediated antibody responses play a pivotal role in protecting the host from acute respiratory tract infections, and in promoting recovery from disease. My lab is interested in studying how interactions with metabolic pathways during influenza and other types of respiratory infections impact B cell function.