Regulation of L-Lactate in Glutamate Excitotoxicity Under Cerebral Ischemia: Pathophysiology and Preventive Strategy

Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS) that mediates synaptic transmission. However, glutamate homeostasis among neural cells is broken in cerebral ischemia. Excessive glutamate triggers <i>N</i>-methyl-<span style="font-variant: small-cap...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mao Zhang, Yanyan Wang, Zili Gong, Wen Jiang, Guodong Ge, Hong Guo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Pharmaceuticals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/7/935
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849419066414989312
author Mao Zhang
Yanyan Wang
Zili Gong
Wen Jiang
Guodong Ge
Hong Guo
author_facet Mao Zhang
Yanyan Wang
Zili Gong
Wen Jiang
Guodong Ge
Hong Guo
author_sort Mao Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS) that mediates synaptic transmission. However, glutamate homeostasis among neural cells is broken in cerebral ischemia. Excessive glutamate triggers <i>N</i>-methyl-<span style="font-variant: small-caps;">d</span>-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) in postsynaptic neurons, leading to intracellular calcium (Ca<sup>2+</sup>) overload and excitoneurotoxicity. At this moment, L-lactate may affect NMDARs and play a protective role in cerebral ischemia. This work proposes that L-lactate regulates glutamate signaling among neural cells. But, dysregulation of L-lactate in glutamate signaling cascades contributes to glutamate excitotoxicity in cerebral ischemia. In detail, L-lactate regulates the glutamine(Gln)-glutamate cycle between astrocytes and presynaptic neurons, which triggers the astroglial L-lactate-sensitive receptor (LLR)-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway, coordinating astroglial glutamate uptake and neuronal glutamate transmission. L-lactate mediates glutamate signaling and synaptic transmission among neural cells. In addition, L-lactate promotes the function of mitochondrial calcium uniporter complex (MCUC), which quickly depletes intracellular Ca<sup>2+</sup> in postsynaptic neurons. In addition, L-lactate can promote the conversion of microglia from the pro-inflammatory (M1) to anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotype. Therefore, regulation of L-lactate in glutamate signaling in the CNS might become a preventive target for cerebral ischemia.
format Article
id doaj-art-bcd85ebd37a44735bbb918ed7b702bf9
institution Kabale University
issn 1424-8247
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Pharmaceuticals
spelling doaj-art-bcd85ebd37a44735bbb918ed7b702bf92025-08-20T03:32:15ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472025-06-0118793510.3390/ph18070935Regulation of L-Lactate in Glutamate Excitotoxicity Under Cerebral Ischemia: Pathophysiology and Preventive StrategyMao Zhang0Yanyan Wang1Zili Gong2Wen Jiang3Guodong Ge4Hong Guo5Department of Medical Genetics, College of Basic Medical Science, Army Medical University, 30 Gaotanyan Main Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400038, ChinaDepartment of Medical Genetics, College of Basic Medical Science, Army Medical University, 30 Gaotanyan Main Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400038, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, 83 Xinqiao Main Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400038, ChinaDepartment of Medical Genetics, College of Basic Medical Science, Army Medical University, 30 Gaotanyan Main Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400038, ChinaDepartment of Medical Genetics, College of Basic Medical Science, Army Medical University, 30 Gaotanyan Main Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400038, ChinaDepartment of Medical Genetics, College of Basic Medical Science, Army Medical University, 30 Gaotanyan Main Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400038, ChinaGlutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS) that mediates synaptic transmission. However, glutamate homeostasis among neural cells is broken in cerebral ischemia. Excessive glutamate triggers <i>N</i>-methyl-<span style="font-variant: small-caps;">d</span>-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) in postsynaptic neurons, leading to intracellular calcium (Ca<sup>2+</sup>) overload and excitoneurotoxicity. At this moment, L-lactate may affect NMDARs and play a protective role in cerebral ischemia. This work proposes that L-lactate regulates glutamate signaling among neural cells. But, dysregulation of L-lactate in glutamate signaling cascades contributes to glutamate excitotoxicity in cerebral ischemia. In detail, L-lactate regulates the glutamine(Gln)-glutamate cycle between astrocytes and presynaptic neurons, which triggers the astroglial L-lactate-sensitive receptor (LLR)-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway, coordinating astroglial glutamate uptake and neuronal glutamate transmission. L-lactate mediates glutamate signaling and synaptic transmission among neural cells. In addition, L-lactate promotes the function of mitochondrial calcium uniporter complex (MCUC), which quickly depletes intracellular Ca<sup>2+</sup> in postsynaptic neurons. In addition, L-lactate can promote the conversion of microglia from the pro-inflammatory (M1) to anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotype. Therefore, regulation of L-lactate in glutamate signaling in the CNS might become a preventive target for cerebral ischemia.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/7/935cerebral ischemiaL-lactateglutamatecalcium overloadastroglial L-lactate-sensitive receptor (LLR)
spellingShingle Mao Zhang
Yanyan Wang
Zili Gong
Wen Jiang
Guodong Ge
Hong Guo
Regulation of L-Lactate in Glutamate Excitotoxicity Under Cerebral Ischemia: Pathophysiology and Preventive Strategy
Pharmaceuticals
cerebral ischemia
L-lactate
glutamate
calcium overload
astroglial L-lactate-sensitive receptor (LLR)
title Regulation of L-Lactate in Glutamate Excitotoxicity Under Cerebral Ischemia: Pathophysiology and Preventive Strategy
title_full Regulation of L-Lactate in Glutamate Excitotoxicity Under Cerebral Ischemia: Pathophysiology and Preventive Strategy
title_fullStr Regulation of L-Lactate in Glutamate Excitotoxicity Under Cerebral Ischemia: Pathophysiology and Preventive Strategy
title_full_unstemmed Regulation of L-Lactate in Glutamate Excitotoxicity Under Cerebral Ischemia: Pathophysiology and Preventive Strategy
title_short Regulation of L-Lactate in Glutamate Excitotoxicity Under Cerebral Ischemia: Pathophysiology and Preventive Strategy
title_sort regulation of l lactate in glutamate excitotoxicity under cerebral ischemia pathophysiology and preventive strategy
topic cerebral ischemia
L-lactate
glutamate
calcium overload
astroglial L-lactate-sensitive receptor (LLR)
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/7/935
work_keys_str_mv AT maozhang regulationofllactateinglutamateexcitotoxicityundercerebralischemiapathophysiologyandpreventivestrategy
AT yanyanwang regulationofllactateinglutamateexcitotoxicityundercerebralischemiapathophysiologyandpreventivestrategy
AT ziligong regulationofllactateinglutamateexcitotoxicityundercerebralischemiapathophysiologyandpreventivestrategy
AT wenjiang regulationofllactateinglutamateexcitotoxicityundercerebralischemiapathophysiologyandpreventivestrategy
AT guodongge regulationofllactateinglutamateexcitotoxicityundercerebralischemiapathophysiologyandpreventivestrategy
AT hongguo regulationofllactateinglutamateexcitotoxicityundercerebralischemiapathophysiologyandpreventivestrategy