We’re excited to announce that a new Section has been added to our flagship journal Clinical & Experimental Immunology. The Immunometabolism Section will accept papers exploring a range of immunometabolism research, from the impact of metabolic disorders on immune function to cutting-edge approaches to advance our understanding of cellular, tissue and systemic immunometabolism, and metabolic biomarker and therapeutic target identification.
The Immunometabolism section will be led by Dr Lizzy Rosser. Here we find out about her plans for this new Section:
Please introduce yourself and tell us a little about your research
I’m a B cell immunologist based at University College London. My research focuses on understanding how B cells contribute to inflammation in childhood rheumatic diseases such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Additionally, I’m interested in how metabolic signals within specific tissue environments influence the way B cells develop and function, and how these processes might affect the persistence and regulation of inflammation in autoimmune diseases.
Immunometabolism explores the metabolic processes underlying the immune system - could you explain how this field has a growing relevance in clinical immunology?
Immunometabolism has really transformed how we think about the regulation of immune responses. We used to see changes in metabolic pathways as just a side effect of immune cell activation, but now we know that these pathways help determine whether immune cells become inflammatory or regulatory, and how they respond to their surroundings.
In the context of disease, imbalances in metabolic pathways and metabolite profiles are increasingly linked with immune dysfunction in immune-related conditions like autoimmunity. There's also growing evidence that metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, can affect immune cell function. These insights are beginning to generate new therapeutic opportunities - from exploring the immunomodulatory effects of metabolic drugs like metformin, to using metabolic signatures as biomarkers for inflammatory disease activity and treatment response.
What are some of the exciting developments in immunometabolism you'd like to highlight?
There are so many to choose from! One area that stands out is the discovery that metabolites are not just energy sources, they act as signalling molecules that directly influence immunity. Molecules like itaconate, fumarate, and succinate play powerful roles in regulating immune responses and perhaps even more surprisingly, associated mitochondrial dynamics are emerging as active regulators of immune cell fate, influencing whether cells become inflammatory or regulatory.
Something I also particularly find interesting is the idea that metabolites may be a potential missing link between environmental triggers and immune dysfunction in autoimmune disease. Microbiota-derived metabolites like the short-chain fatty acid butyrate are now known to directly regulate B cell function and antibody production, and disruptions to these signals in the future may help explain how environmental factors tip the immune system toward pathogenic responses in inflammatory diseases.
New technologies like spatial transcriptomics and metabolomics are also allowing us to study immune metabolism within different tissues and inflammatory environments in situ for the first time. For example, studies of tuberculosis granulomas have already revealed distinct metabolic zones such as hypoxic niches linked to immune dysfunction. Similarly complex metabolic landscapes likely to exist within the inflamed tissues of autoimmune diseases, which will be an interesting area for future study.
What inspired you to become involved with the journal Clinical & Experimental Immunology?
I'm passionate about science communication because I believe research needs to be shared widely to make an impact. That means sharing findings with peers through peer-reviewed publications, as well as engaging broader audiences. I am often looking for opportunities to further contribute to all the stages of scientific communication.
In terms of Clinical & Experimental Immunology, the journal already has a strong reputation for publishing research that bridges fundamental immunology and clinical applications, and my research profile sits firmly in this space. I have published in the journal myself and was impressed by the fast, supportive and rigorous editorial process, which encouraged me to get more involved. Finally, I'm keen to contribute to the British Society for Immunology by supporting one of its flagship journals.
Who should submit their work to the journal and why?
I'd encourage anyone working in immunometabolism to submit their work to Clinical & Experimental Immunology. Whether its fundamental research uncovering how metabolism shapes immune cell behaviour, translational studies advancing our understanding of human disease, or clinical research with implications for diagnosis and treatment. All are very welcome. We're also interested in studies looking at external influences like diet and the microbiota, and how metabolism intersects with inflammation in metabolic diseases.
Immunometabolism naturally spans many disciplines, and I hope this section will bring together researchers from diverse backgrounds to showcase the power of interdisciplinary science. As I’ve already experienced, Clinical & Experimental Immunology offers fast, rigorous peer review, and publishing with the journal supports the BSI. Publishing in a Society journal helps to strengthen the immunology community via BSI grants, events and advocacy.