The new insights of lactate in various kidney diseases

Kidneys are crucial for systemic lactate homeostasis, and a proper lactate balance subsequently supports normal kidney structure and function. The physiological lactate production-clearance axis along the proximal-distal tubular network may represent an important mechanism for maintaining tubulointerstitial microenvironmental balance. In the context of kidney diseases, the dynamic changes in lactate levels reveal the process of renal metabolic remodelling and even participate in the regulation of disease occurrence and progression.

This review systematically combs the maintenance of renal lactate homeostasis under physiological conditions and integrates current research findings on the roles of lactate in the initiation and progression of various kidney diseases, as well as the underlying core molecular mechanisms.

Existing studies confirm that, in a variety of kidney diseases, abnormal lactate levels are closely associated with the occurrence of renal metabolic remodelling, and lactate itself can further regulate the progression of kidney diseases. Targeted regulation of lactate metabolism or lactate-related mechanisms of action is expected to provide a new perspective for the treatment of kidney diseases.

The exploration of lactate-related mechanisms offers potential insights for developing novel strategies for early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention of kidney diseases; however, more in-depth studies are still required to translate these findings into clinical practice.