Tier 3 — preclinical

Betaine inhibits the stem cell-like properties of hepatocellular carcinoma by activating autophagy via SAM/m6A/YTHDF1-mediated enhancement on ATG3 stability

Chen Wang, Meng-Chu Li, Wen-Ge Huang, Si-Yu Huang, Maierhaba Wusiman, Zhao-Yan Liu, Hui-Lian Zhu
Theranostics 2025 15(5):1949-1965

Bibliography

PubMed
PMID 39897540
PubMed Central
PMC11780527
DOI
10.7150/thno.102682
Funding
Funding was not specified in the indexed record or accessible funding metadata.
Competing interests
Reported disclosure: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

Study snapshot

DesignExperimental animal and/or laboratory research
ModelLiver-cancer cells, mouse xenografts and human association data
SampleExperiment-specific biological replicates and model groups; see original methods
InterventionExperimental betaine and SAM/RNA-methylation pathway manipulation
DurationModel-specific cell and animal protocols
EndpointsTumor stem-like properties; Autophagy; RNA methylation

What the study showed, in plain terms

Published in 2025, 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 Experimental betaine and SAM/RNA-methylation pathway manipulation. Follow-up or treatment period: Model-specific cell and animal protocols.

Betaine reduced selected stem-like tumor properties in models through a proposed SAM/m6A/YTHDF1/ATG3-autophagy pathway.

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 reduced selected stem-like tumor properties in models through a proposed SAM/m6A/YTHDF1/ATG3-autophagy pathway.
  • The recorded outcome domains were Tumor stem-like properties; Autophagy; RNA methylation.
  • The result applies to the tested exposure: Experimental betaine and SAM/RNA-methylation pathway manipulation; Model-specific cell and animal protocols.

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: Accessible full-text extract plus indexed 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