Lactylation and exercise: A molecular link to disease alleviation (Review).

Abstract

Regular physical activity improves physical capacity and overall health by enhancing cardiopulmonary function and muscle strength, reducing stress, and improving psychological well‑being and quality of life. Despite these known benefits, the molecular mechanisms that underlie these effects remain incompletely understood. Lactylation, a modification wherein lactate molecules form ester bonds with proteins, induces functional changes in these proteins. Evidence indicates that exercise can regulate lactylation, which, in turn, affects intracellular signaling pathways and metabolic processes. This modulation plays a role in promoting health and facilitating disease alleviation. The present review offers an extensive review of the mechanisms through which exercise influences lactylation and discusses the potential clinical applications of lactylation in the prevention and treatment of exercise‑related diseases.