Lactate metabolism

"Lactate metabolism" refers to the coordinated biochemical pathways responsible for the production, utilization, and clearance of lactate, a central metabolite produced mainly from glycolysis. Major components include the enzymes **lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)**, which catalyzes pyruvate-lactate interconversion; **monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs)**, which mediate lactate transport across membranes; and various regulatory factors. Lactate serves as a metabolic fuel, signaling molecule, and modulator of cell fate, playing crucial roles in cancer biology, immune regulation, exercise physiology, and metabolic homeostasis. Disruption or targeting of lactate metabolism—primarily through inhibition of LDHA or blockage of lactate transport—is explored therapeutically, especially in cancer, but bears risks due to the ubiquity and importance of lactate in normal physiology[1][3][4][7].