The tortuous path of lactate shuttle discovery: From cinders and boards to the lab and ICU

Publication date: Available online 21 February 2020Source: Journal of Sport and Health ScienceAuthor(s): George A. BrooksAbstractOnce thought to be a waste product of oxygen limited (anaerobic) metabolism, lactate is now known to form continuously under fully oxygenated (aerobic) conditions. Lactate shuttling between producer (driver) and consumer cells fulfills at least 3 purposes; lactate is: (1) a major energy source, (2) the major gluconeogenic precursor, and (3) a signaling molecule. Lactate Shuttle theory is applicable to diverse fields such as sports nutrition and hydration, resuscitation from acidosis and Dengue, treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury, maintenance of glycemia, reduction of inflammation, cardiac support in heart failure and following MI, and to improve cognition. Yet, dysregulated lactate shuttling disrupts metabolic flexibility, and worse, supports oncogenesis. Lactate production in cancer (the Warburg Effect) is involved in all main sequela for carcinogenesis: angiogenesis, immune escape, cell migration, metastasis and self-sufficient metabolism. The history of the tortuous path of discovery in lactate metabolism and shuttling was discussed in the 2019 ACSM Joseph B. Wolffe Lecture in Orlando, Florida.
Source: Journal of Sport and Health Science - Category: Sports Medicine Source Type: research