Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42552066›Full record

ArticleAging and disease2025

Homeostatic DNMT3a Activity Is Required to Restore Cognition and Hippocampal DNA Methylation in the 5xFAD Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Yanzhi Liu, Chi Him Poon, Long Sum Rachel Tse, Jaydeep Roy, Charlotte Theodora So, Benjamin Chun-Kit Tong, Kwok-Ming Yao, George Lim Tipoe, Harry Steinbusch, Luca Aquili and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Aging and disease, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Yanzhi LiuSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Chi Him PoonSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Long Sum Rachel TseSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Jaydeep RoySchool of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Charlotte Theodora SoSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Benjamin Chun-Kit TongSchool of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Kwok-Ming YaoSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
George Lim TipoeSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Harry SteinbuschDepartment of Cellular and Translational Neuroscience, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Luca AquiliSchool of Management, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Beppu, Oita, Japan.
Allan KalueffDepartment of Biosciences and Bioinformatics, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Neurobiology and Cell Signaling, School of Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China.
King-Ho CheungSchool of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Man-Lung FungSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Lee Wei LimSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Dysregulation of DNA methylation has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD), making the manipulation of DNA methylation processes a promising therapeutic strategy. DNA methyltransferase 3a (DNMT3a), one of the two de novo DNMTs, is involved in learning and memory. However, it remains elusive whether and how alterations in DNMT3a expression contributes to AD pathogenesis. In this study, we investigated the consequences of DNA methylation dysregulations in the hippocampus of 5xFAD mouse model of AD and explored the use of L-methionine (MET) supplement to restore DNA methylation dysregulations. The 5xFAD model exhibited spatial memory impairments accompanied by global DNA hypomethylation and dysregulated hippocampal expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) and demethylases. Prolonged treatment with MET rescued memory deficits, reduced amyloid-β load, decreased neuroinflammation, restored the expression of plasticity-regulating genes and proteins, and enhanced serotonergic neurotransmission. DNMT3a knockdown diminished the pro-cognitive effects of MET and independently impaired spatial memory and hippocampal neuroplasticity in both wildtype and 5xFAD mice. Interestingly, DNMT3a overexpression also had detrimental effects on spatial memory and hippocampal neuroplasticity in both genotypes. Our findings demonstrate that methyl supplementation can be a promising therapeutic strategy for AD patients with brain DNA hypomethylation and that maintaining DNMT3a homeostasis is crucial for normal cognitive functions and the pro-cognitive effects of MET.

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseCognitionDNA (Cytosine-5-)-MethyltransferasesDNA MethylationHippocampusAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalDNA Methyltransferase 3AHomeostasisMaleMethionineMiceMice, TransgenicNeuronal PlasticitySpatial MemoryDNA (Cytosine-5-)-MethyltransferasesDNA Methyltransferase 3ADnmt3a protein, mouseMethionine

Identifiers

PMID42552066
PMCPMC13437123

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.