Tier 3 — preclinical

Unveiling the crucial role of betaine: modulation of GABA homeostasis via SLC6A1 transporter (GAT1)

Manan Bhatt, Erika Lazzarin, Ana Sofia Alberto-Silva, Guido Domingo, Rocco Zerlotti, Ralph Gradisch, Andre Bazzone, Harald H Sitte, Thomas Stockner, Elena Bossi
Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS 2024 81(1):269

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 38884791
PubMed Central
PMC11335192
DOI
10.1007/s00018-024-05309-w
Funding
Indexed grant support: 860954 — HORIZON EUROPE Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions. The indexed list may not contain the complete funding declaration.
Competing interests
Reported disclosure: AB and RZ were employed by Nanion technologies GmbH. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Study snapshot

DesignExperimental animal and/or laboratory research
ModelTransporter electrophysiology and cell/simulation models
SampleExperiment-specific biological replicates and model groups; see original methods
InterventionBetaine at micromolar and millimolar concentrations
DurationIn vitro and computational experiments
EndpointsGAT1; GABA transport; Neurotransmission

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2024, this source examined preclinical aging, brain and metabolic mechanisms. Design: Experimental animal and/or laboratory research. Sample/model: Experiment-specific biological replicates and model groups; see original methods. The exposure or intervention was Betaine at micromolar and millimolar concentrations. Follow-up or treatment period: In vitro and computational experiments.

Betaine acted as a context-dependent GAT1 modulator, with concentration-related effects on GABA transport.

Experimental model evidence. The intervention, concentrations and outcomes do not establish an effective human supplement dose or a clinical treatment benefit.

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Key findings

  • Betaine acted as a context-dependent GAT1 modulator, with concentration-related effects on GABA transport.
  • The recorded outcome domains were GAT1; GABA transport; Neurotransmission.
  • The result applies to the tested exposure: Betaine at micromolar and millimolar concentrations; In vitro and computational experiments.

What this study can and cannot tell us

  • Experimental model evidence. The intervention, concentrations and outcomes do not establish an effective human supplement dose or a clinical treatment benefit.
  • Cell concentrations, species, disease models and experimental routes cannot be converted directly into an effective or safe oral human regimen.
  • Source basis: Indexed abstract and bibliographic data. Missing method details, funding information or participant denominators are not inferred.

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Editorial review

Reviewed by the Biohack Blueprint research team

Last verified

Dr. Khaled Mahmoud, MBBChCritical Care Medicine, Longevity Science & Editorial Direction Dr. Amr Yasser, PhDCardiometabolic, Musculoskeletal, Gut & Bioavailability Dr. Abdulla Mostafa, PhDCellular Senescence, Neurological, Mitochondrial & Brain-Ageing Biology