Pharmacological elevation of lactate alleviates sepsis via histone lactylation-induced IL-10 production

Despite that lactate accumulation is deemed to be a marker of severe sepsis, lactate-driven histone lactylation induces transcription of homeostatic genes. Thus, the biological roles of lactate in sepsis remain unknown. Here, we report that amlexanox, an anti-inflammatory drug, improves survival, mitigates multiorgan dysfunction, and suppresses inflammatory infiltrates in endotoxemia and sepsis. Mechanistically, amlexanox elevates intracellular lactate to enhance histone lactylation of IL10 gene promoter and IL-10 production to alleviate sepsis. Blocking IL-10 receptor nearly abrogates therapeutic effect of amlexanox, and inhibiting lactate production abrogates amlexanox-induced IL-10. Amlexanox treatment significantly downregulates gene expression of electron transport chain, indicating it elevates lactate level by breaking aerobic respiration. Importantly, in vivo sodium lactate administration improves survival in endotoxemia. Our study clarifies that elevating lactate-mediated histone lactylation plays a protective role in sepsis, and amlexanox is a potential drug for sepsis.