Comment on the Editorial “Embracing the Modern Biochemistry of Brain Metabolism”

The editorial “Embracing the Modern Biochemistry of Brain Metabolism” takes exception with some critics who “persist in refuting intercellular metabolic exchange”, singling out our recent review “A bird's-eye view of glycolytic upregulation in activated brain: The major fate of lactate is release from activated tissue, not shuttling to nearby neurons”. However, it is important to note that our review did not refute intercellular metabolic exchange or shuttles. The review only refuted the concept that most of the incremental neuronal energy needed to support increased signaling during activation is supplied by an astrocyte-to-neuron lactate shuttle (ANLS) as originally proposed more than 30 years ago. Like the authors of the editorial, we also advocate for a rigorous research agenda, and we agree that elucidating the intricate and dynamic intercellular metabolic exchanges in brain tissue, beyond merely lactate, is essential to advance clinical and neuroprotective treatments. However, we reject their claim that our review represents “a minority school of thought” that “continues to dispute this concept without offering compelling scientific proof”. The evidence refuting a major role of the ANLS is in our detailed, fact-based review for interested neuroscientists to read and evaluate for themselves.