Fig. 3: H3K18 lactylation regulates neutrophil recruitment.

a, b Western blotting results showed that exogenous addition of lactic acid significantly enhanced the lactylation of H3K18. c, d Inhibition of lactate with 2DG resulted in a significant downregulation of H3K18 lactylation. e, f Statistical analysis showed that lactate significantly increased neutrophil recruitment at the site of injury under LD conditions, while 2DG significantly decreased neutrophil recruitment (n = 30). The white rectangles in the images represent the counting areas (scale bar: 200 μm). g Neutrophils migrated to the caudal fin injury site after 3 h of injury after lactic acid and 2DG treatment under LL condition. The white rectangles in the images represent the counting areas (scale bar: 200 μm). h Statistical analysis revealed that lactic acid significantly increased the recruitment of neutrophil to the injury site, while 2DG significantly decreased neutrophil recruitment (n = 30). i, j In larvae that were not subjected to fin injury, there was no significant difference in the neutrophil counts in the counting area between the control group and the treatment group. The white rectangles in the images represent the counting areas (scale bar: 200 μm) (n = 15). k, l Lactic acid increased the recruitment of neutrophils to otic vesicles 3 h after LPS challenge, while 2DG significantly decreased the recruitment (n = 30). The white rectangles in the images represent the counting areas (scale bar: 200 μm) (n = 30). m, n In larvae that were not subjected to microinjection of LPS, there was no significant difference in the neutrophil counts in the counting area between the control group and the treatment group. The white rectangles in the images represent the counting areas (scale bar: 200 μm) (n = 15). Unpaired tests and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the differences. All experiments were repeated three times. Bar graphs represent the mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). (*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001).