Lactate and lactylation in cardiovascular diseases: current progress and future perspectives

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Cardiology
• Metabolic Research

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) involve structural and functional impairments, with metabolic remodeling, cardiac fibrosis, and inflammation as key contributors.
• Metabolic syndromes exacerbate CVD risks, highlighting the need to understand metabolic underpinnings.
• Lactate, a glycolysis byproduct, is vital for cellular metabolism and activity regulation, with its transport critical for homeostasis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in understanding the roles of lactate and lactylation in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
• To provide insights for future research and therapeutic interventions targeting metabolic pathways in CVDs.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent scientific advancements.
• Analysis of the role of lactate metabolism and lactylation in CVD pathogenesis.

Main Results:

• Lactate dynamics disruptions are implicated in various CVDs.
• Lactylation, a novel post-translational modification, influences protein function and gene expression in cardiac cells, impacting CVD pathogenesis.

Conclusions:

• Lactate and lactylation are significant factors in CVD pathogenesis.
• Targeting lactate metabolism and lactylation presents a promising therapeutic avenue for CVDs.