Lactate and lactylation in liver diseases: energy metabolism, inflammatory immunity and tumor microenvironment

Liver diseases pose a significant threat to human health. Lactate, a byproduct of glycolysis, serves various biological functions, including acting as an energy source, a signaling molecule, and a substrate for lactylation. Lactylation is a novel lactate-dependent post-translational modification tha...

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Main Authors: Shiyi Cheng, Xiaoyu Xiao, Dingye Wang, Xiyuan Wang, Minlan Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1581582/full
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author Shiyi Cheng
Xiaoyu Xiao
Dingye Wang
Xiyuan Wang
Minlan Yang
author_facet Shiyi Cheng
Xiaoyu Xiao
Dingye Wang
Xiyuan Wang
Minlan Yang
author_sort Shiyi Cheng
collection DOAJ
description Liver diseases pose a significant threat to human health. Lactate, a byproduct of glycolysis, serves various biological functions, including acting as an energy source, a signaling molecule, and a substrate for lactylation. Lactylation is a novel lactate-dependent post-translational modification that plays a role in tumor proliferation, the regulation of immune cell function, and the modulation of gene expression. In this paper, we summarize the roles of lactate and lactylation in energy metabolism, inflammatory immunity, and the tumor microenvironment, while also elucidating recent research advancements regarding lactate and lactylation in the context of hepatic fibrosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Furthermore, lactate and lactylation are proposed as promising new targets for the treatment of liver diseases.
format Article
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institution OA Journals
issn 1664-3224
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Immunology
spelling doaj-art-775ed2b34c1145dc9d0e0101af763e412025-08-20T02:15:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-05-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15815821581582Lactate and lactylation in liver diseases: energy metabolism, inflammatory immunity and tumor microenvironmentShiyi ChengXiaoyu XiaoDingye WangXiyuan WangMinlan YangLiver diseases pose a significant threat to human health. Lactate, a byproduct of glycolysis, serves various biological functions, including acting as an energy source, a signaling molecule, and a substrate for lactylation. Lactylation is a novel lactate-dependent post-translational modification that plays a role in tumor proliferation, the regulation of immune cell function, and the modulation of gene expression. In this paper, we summarize the roles of lactate and lactylation in energy metabolism, inflammatory immunity, and the tumor microenvironment, while also elucidating recent research advancements regarding lactate and lactylation in the context of hepatic fibrosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Furthermore, lactate and lactylation are proposed as promising new targets for the treatment of liver diseases.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1581582/fulllactatelactylationliver diseasesmetabolismimmunology
spellingShingle Shiyi Cheng
Xiaoyu Xiao
Dingye Wang
Xiyuan Wang
Minlan Yang
Lactate and lactylation in liver diseases: energy metabolism, inflammatory immunity and tumor microenvironment
Frontiers in Immunology
lactate
lactylation
liver diseases
metabolism
immunology
title Lactate and lactylation in liver diseases: energy metabolism, inflammatory immunity and tumor microenvironment
title_full Lactate and lactylation in liver diseases: energy metabolism, inflammatory immunity and tumor microenvironment
title_fullStr Lactate and lactylation in liver diseases: energy metabolism, inflammatory immunity and tumor microenvironment
title_full_unstemmed Lactate and lactylation in liver diseases: energy metabolism, inflammatory immunity and tumor microenvironment
title_short Lactate and lactylation in liver diseases: energy metabolism, inflammatory immunity and tumor microenvironment
title_sort lactate and lactylation in liver diseases energy metabolism inflammatory immunity and tumor microenvironment
topic lactate
lactylation
liver diseases
metabolism
immunology
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1581582/full
work_keys_str_mv AT shiyicheng lactateandlactylationinliverdiseasesenergymetabolisminflammatoryimmunityandtumormicroenvironment
AT xiaoyuxiao lactateandlactylationinliverdiseasesenergymetabolisminflammatoryimmunityandtumormicroenvironment
AT dingyewang lactateandlactylationinliverdiseasesenergymetabolisminflammatoryimmunityandtumormicroenvironment
AT xiyuanwang lactateandlactylationinliverdiseasesenergymetabolisminflammatoryimmunityandtumormicroenvironment
AT minlanyang lactateandlactylationinliverdiseasesenergymetabolisminflammatoryimmunityandtumormicroenvironment