# New insights into lactylation in respiratory diseases: progress and perspectives

## TL;DR

This review explores how lactylation, a newly discovered protein modification, influences respiratory diseases like asthma and lung cancer, offering new therapeutic possibilities.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of lactylation's role in respiratory diseases and highlights its potential as a therapeutic target.

## Key findings

- Lactylation modulates gene transcription and protein function in respiratory diseases.
- Lactylation is involved in the progression of asthma, lung cancer, and pulmonary fibrosis.
- The modification shows potential as a novel therapeutic target for respiratory conditions.

## Abstract

Lactate is conventionally regarded as a metabolic byproduct and generated through diverse pathophysiological pathways. However, a growing body of evidence supports its regulatory roles in energy metabolism and signal transduction, boosting extensive research into lactate-mediated lactylation as a newly discovered post-translational modification (PTM). Lactylation can occur on both histone and non-histone proteins, thereby modulating gene transcription and protein function. By influencing various biological processes, lactylation has been shown to intricately participate in the onset and progression of respiratory diseases that are closely related to metabolic abnormalities and remodeling, including asthma, lung cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, silicosis, pulmonary hypertension (PH), and acute lung injury (ALI). In this review, we summarize the current progress in this field, underscoring the multifaceted regulatory and functional mechanisms underlying lactylation, the pivotal role of lactylation in different respiratory diseases, as well with its potential as a therapeutic target. This comprehensive understanding offers novel insights into the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases and opens new avenues for therapeutic approach.