Cancer-augmented lactogenesis has been described by the Warburg effect, and is associated with several major hallmarks of neoplasia. However, the non-metabolic functions of elevated lactate in physiology and disease remain unknown. Here we report histone lysine lactylation as a new type of epigenetic mechanism and as a functional destination for lactate. Histone lactylation is induced under glycolytic conditions such as hypoxia and M1 macrophage polarization. In the late phase of M1 macrophage polarization, increases in histone lactylation but not acetylation mark M2-like genes for activation. Our findings suggest a feedback mechanism of the innate immune system to switch from proinflammation to resolution through histone Kla-associated gene expression. This mechanism is implemented by the coopted function of lactate and histone lactylation in metabolism and epigenetics. Together, our study opens a new avenue for understanding function of lactate and glycolysis underlined diverse pathophysiological conditions. SOURCE: Di Zhang (dizhang@uchicago.edu) -  the University of Chicago

Pluto Bioinformatics

GSE115354: Metabolic regulation of gene expression by histone lactylation