Abstract: Lactylation modification, a novel form of post-translational modification, has garnered significant attention in recent years. This modification is prevalent in histones, signaling molecules, functional enzymes, and proteins associated with metabolic substrates, playing a crucial regulatory role in the onset and progression of diseases. Existing research has established the pathophysiological significance of lactylation modification in kidney diseases. This article reviews the physiological functions of lactate and its mechanistic association with kidney metabolism, systematically analyzing the regulatory roles of lactate molecules and lactylation modification in the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Furthermore, it proposes that targeting the regulation of lactate metabolic pathways may emerge as a potential strategy for the treatment of kidney diseases, thereby providing theoretical foundations and directional insights for subsequent related research.

Key words: lactylation modification, lactic acid, kidney diseases