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A role for TREM2 ligands in the phagocytosis of apoptotic neuronal cells by microglia
Hsieh CL, Koike M, Spusta SC, Niemi EC, Yenari M, Nakamura MC, Seaman WE.. Journal of neurochemistry, 2009-03-19
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Following neuronal injury, microglia initiate repair by phagocytosing dead neurons without eliciting inflammation. Prior evidence indicates triggering receptor expressed by myeloid cells-2 (TREM2) promotes phagocytosis and retards inflammation. However, evidence that microglia and neurons directly interact through TREM2 to orchestrate microglial function is lacking.
Key findings
- Prior evidence indicates triggering receptor expressed by myeloid cells-2 (TREM2) promotes phagocytosis and retards inflammation.
- However, evidence that microglia and neurons directly interact through TREM2 to orchestrate microglial function is lacking.
- We here demonstrate that TREM2 interacts with endogenous ligands on neurons.
- Staining with TREM2-Fc identified TREM2 ligands (TREM2-L) on Neuro2A cells and on cultured cortical and dopamine neurons.
Why it matters
This study shows that TREM2 interacts with ligands on neurons and promotes microglial phagocytosis of dead neurons without inflammation. It is basic cell and culture work from 2009 and does not test an Alzheimer's therapy.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 52/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of neurochemistry) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of Neurochemistry: journal h-index 349 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2009 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 477 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 25.1 citations a year over 19 year(s) since 2009 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 6.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 5 / 6 | Cited by 102 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 82 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author William E. Seaman: h-index 56 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of California, San Francisco: institution h-index 1,915 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 19302484) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 52 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06042.x
- PubMed: 19302484
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Neurochemistry →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Hsieh, C. L., Koike, M., Spusta, S. C., Niemi, E. C., Yenari, M., Nakamura, M. C., et al. (2009). A role for TREM2 ligands in the phagocytosis of apoptotic neuronal cells by microglia. Journal of neurochemistry. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06042.x
Vancouver
Hsieh CL, Koike M, Spusta SC, Niemi EC, Yenari M, Nakamura MC, et al. A role for TREM2 ligands in the phagocytosis of apoptotic neuronal cells by microglia. Journal of neurochemistry. 2009. doi:10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06042.x. PMID: 19302484.
BibTeX
@article{hsieh2009-19302484,
author = {Hsieh, C. L. and Koike, M. and Spusta, S. C. and Niemi, E. C. and Yenari, M. and Nakamura, M. C. and Seaman, W. E.},
title = {{A role for TREM2 ligands in the phagocytosis of apoptotic neuronal cells by microglia}},
journal = {Journal of neurochemistry},
year = {2009},
doi = {10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06042.x},
pmid = {19302484},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06042.x}
}
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