Mechanism and therapeutic prospects of adipose tissue B lymphocytes in obesity and obesity‑associated metabolic diseases (Review)

Obesity has become a global epidemic and a notable trigger for numerous chronic diseases, including insulin resistance, type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, non‑alcoholic fatty liver disease and cancer, which is characterized by chronic low‑grade inflammation in the adipose tissue. Traditionally, adipose tissue macrophages were considered the central drivers of obesity‑associated inflammation; however, studies have revealed that B cells play a notable role in adipose tissue inflammation and metabolic homeostasis. The present review systematically elaborates on the distribution and functions of B cells within adipose tissue, with a focus on the dynamic changes in B cell subsets during the progression of obesity, the mechanisms in promoting metabolic diseases, and the potential applications and challenges of targeting B cells for the treatment of obesity‑related metabolic disorders, in order to provide new insights into the mechanistic understanding and therapy of obesity and its associated metabolic diseases.