T cells are the main force of anti-infection and antitumor and are also involved in autoimmune diseases. During the development of these diseases, T cells need to rapidly produce large amounts of energy to satisfy their activation, proliferation, and differentiation. In this review, we introduced lactate dehydrogenase A(LDHA), predominantly involved in glycolysis, which provides energy for T cells and plays a dual role in disease by mediating lactate production, non-classical enzyme activity, and oxidative stress. Mechanistically, the signaling molecule can interact with the LDHA promoter or regulate LDHA activity through post-translational modifications. These latest findings suggest that modulation of LDHA may have considerable therapeutic effects in diseases where T-cell activation is an important pathogenesis. • The role of LDHA in a variety of T cells was summarized. • The presence of post-translational modifications in LDHA and its role in epigenetic modifications were reported. • Targeting LDHA in T cells may help alleviate infections, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]