Harnessing the Duality of Regulatory B Cells: From Identification of Characteristic Molecules to Therapeutic Targeting

Abstract

The field of immunology is increasingly intersecting with molecular biology, metabolic biology, and neurobiology[1-3], marking a shift beyond traditional research approaches toward a more comprehensive understanding of the immune system. Central to this integrated perspective is the growing recognition that B cells are not only antibody producers, but also multifunctional cells dynamically modulated by their microenvironment. This comprehensive synthesis of recent research illuminates the dual nature of regulatory B cells (Bregs) as pivotal orchestrators of immune homeostasis. We examine how Bregs, governed by complex metabolic cues, neural signaling pathways, and local tissue microenvironments, can either suppress pathological inflammation or be co-opted to drive disease progression in autoimmunity, cancer, and allergic conditions. Understanding these microenvironmental determinants of Breg function is particularly critical for developing next-generation prognostic tools and targeted therapeutic strategies that effectively modulate B cell activity in various disease states.