Lactylation at the Crossroads of Metabolism and Immunity: Epigenetic Reprogramming in Allergic Inflammation

Food allergies are increasingly prevalent worldwide, yet the underlying immunometabolic mechanisms remain incompletely elucidated. Lactylation, as an emerging post-translational modification, has recently been identified as a critical regulator of immunometabolic reprogramming and inflammatory responses in allergic diseases. This review synthesizes current evidence on the role of lactylation in modulating immune cell dynamics, including macrophage polarization, dendritic cell antigen presentation, T-cell differentiation, mast cell activation, and neutrophil function. By systematically integrating lactate metabolism with lactylation-mediated epigenetic regulation, this review highlights their central role in shaping allergic inflammation, thereby linking metabolism to immune regulation in food allergies. Despite the research progress, challenges remain in understanding the transient nature of lactylation and tissue-specific dynamics. Future research should combine spatial omics, lactylation-specific imaging, and physiologically relevant models to clarify its spatiotemporal regulation. Meanwhile, dietary strategies, microbiota-based interventions, and pharmacological regulation may provide practical approaches for modulating lactate metabolism and lactylation.