Protein Lactylation in Central Nervous System Diseases: Molecular Mechanisms and Targeted Therapeutic Strategies.
Overview
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Spinal Surgery, People’s Hospital of Yangjiang, Yangjiang, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
- Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
- Hanzhong Psychiatric Hospital, Hanzhong, Shanxi, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Organs and Computational Medicine in Zhejiang Province, Shulan International Medical College, Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
Abstract
Lactate, once considered merely a metabolic byproduct, is now recognized as a cornerstone of central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis, serving as both a vital energy substrate and signaling molecule. The identification of lysine lactylation (Kla) has established this modification as a key epigenetic link between cellular metabolism and genomic regulation. This review examines the molecular mechanisms underlying protein lactylation, including enzymatic regulation by writers, erasers, and readers as well as non-enzymatic mechanisms. The multifaceted roles of Kla are explored in the context of CNS disorders, ranging from malignancies, acute injuries, and neurodegenerative diseases. The review further examines Kla’s role in neuroinflammation, metabolic reprogramming, and neuroplasticity, highlighting its potential as a sensitive biomarker. Potential therapeutic strategies are also considered, including metabolic inhibitors and nanocarriers capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to restore metabolic and epigenetic balance.
Reproduced under the paper's license (CC BY-NC), from the paper cited above.
Code
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Data
Datasets cited
- geo:GSE85426 — at NCBI GEO; found in the text, “Lactylation in Neurodegenerative Diseases”
Data Sharing Statement
Data sharing is not applicable to this article, as no new datasets were generated or analyzed in the current study. All information and data discussed in this review are derived from the published literature cited in the reference list. The materials and conclusions are based on publicly available sources, ensuring the accessibility and verifiability of the synthesized knowledge.
Reproduced under the paper's license (CC BY-NC), from the paper cited above.
Versions
The history of this record: each version stored by the harvester or made by a correction of its authors or of the maintainers of its code, and what changed in its facts. The texts of the paper (its abstract, its availability statements) are not part of it; versions that changed only those are not listed.
Version 2, 28 September 2026
- Funding: added National Natural Science Foundation of China: 82171459
Version 1, 27 September 2026: the first record
Recorded: type, language, journal, volume, pages, dates, 12 authors, 5 keywords, 7 MeSH terms, 146 references.
Cite
This paper
Cheng, Z., Ou, G., Zhang, G., Ahmed, W., Han, Y., Zhang, D., Chai, T., Hu, M., Zhang, Q., Lei, J., Lei, L., & Zhu, Z. (2026). Protein Lactylation in Central Nervous System Diseases: Molecular Mechanisms and Targeted Therapeutic Strategies. International journal of nanomedicine, 21, 621038. https://
BibTeX
@article{cheng2026protei
author = {Cheng, Ziyan and Ou, Guangxin and Zhang, Guilong and Ahmed, Waqas and Han, Yongquan and Zhang, Dongshan and Chai, Tianran and Hu, Meng and Zhang, Qiankun and Lei, Jiaxin and Lei, Lanjie and Zhu, Zhihan},
title = {{Protein Lactylation in Central Nervous System Diseases: Molecular Mechanisms and Targeted Therapeutic Strategies}},
journal = {International journal of nanomedicine},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
volume = {21},
pages = {621038},
publisher = {Dove Press},
issn = {1176-9114},
doi = {10.2147/
url = {https://
pmid = {42500703},
pmcid = {PMC13398407}
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
AU - Cheng, Ziyan
AU - Ou, Guangxin
AU - Zhang, Guilong
AU - Ahmed, Waqas
AU - Han, Yongquan
AU - Zhang, Dongshan
AU - Chai, Tianran
AU - Hu, Meng
AU - Zhang, Qiankun
AU - Lei, Jiaxin
AU - Lei, Lanjie
AU - Zhu, Zhihan
TI - Protein Lactylation in Central Nervous System Diseases: Molecular Mechanisms and Targeted Therapeutic Strategies
T2 - International journal of nanomedicine
J2 - Int J Nanomedicine
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/
VL - 21
SP - 621038
SN - 1176-9114
PB - Dove Press
DO - 10.2147/
UR - https://
LA - en
ER -
CSL-JSON
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