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Choroidal Neovascularization Is Suppressed With Activation of TREM2 in Mononuclear Phagocytes—Brief Report
Hitomi Yagi, Myriam Boeck, Katherine Neilsen, Jay Yang, Minji Ko, Yohei Tomita, Kazuno Negishi, Zhongjie Fu et al.. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 2025-03-27
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
We found that pharmacological activation of TREM2 suppressed laser-induced choroidal neovessel formation. The activation of TREM2 in mononuclear phagocytes suppressed TNF (tumor necrosis factor) and subsequently promoted phagocytosis. These findings demonstrate that activation of TREM2 in mononuclear phagocytes suppresses the proinflammatory response, promotes phagocytosis, and impedes choroidal neovessel formation. Our study provides insight into the critical role of TREM2 in pathological angiogenesis.
Key findings
- We found that pharmacological activation of TREM2 suppressed laser-induced choroidal neovessel formation.
- The activation of TREM2 in mononuclear phagocytes suppressed TNF (tumor necrosis factor) and subsequently promoted phagocytosis.
- These findings demonstrate that activation of TREM2 in mononuclear phagocytes suppresses the proinflammatory response, promotes phagocytosis, and impedes choroidal neovessel formation.
- Our study provides insight into the critical role of TREM2 in pathological angiogenesis.
Why it matters
In this study, pharmacological activation of TREM2 suppressed laser-induced choroidal neovessel formation in the eye by reducing TNF and promoting phagocytosis in mononuclear phagocytes. These findings concern pathological angiogenesis in the eye rather than Alzheimer's disease itself, and no Alzheimer's treatment or prevention was tested.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
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 (Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology: journal h-index 340 (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 | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 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 | 2 / 7 | Cited 5 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 5 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Lois E. H. Smith: h-index 78 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40143815) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.124.321809
- PubMed: 40143815
- Original source →
- Free full text: Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology →
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's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Yagi, H., Boeck, M., Neilsen, K., Yang, J., Ko, M., Tomita, Y., et al. (2025). Choroidal Neovascularization Is Suppressed With Activation of TREM2 in Mononuclear Phagocytes—Brief Report. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. https://doi.org/10.1161/atvbaha.124.321809
Vancouver
Yagi H, Boeck M, Neilsen K, Yang J, Ko M, Tomita Y, et al. Choroidal Neovascularization Is Suppressed With Activation of TREM2 in Mononuclear Phagocytes—Brief Report. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. 2025. doi:10.1161/atvbaha.124.321809. PMID: 40143815.
BibTeX
@article{yagi2025-40143815,
author = {Yagi, Hitomi and Boeck, Myriam and Neilsen, Katherine and Yang, Jay and Ko, Minji and Tomita, Yohei and Negishi, Kazuno and Fu, Zhongjie and others},
title = {{Choroidal Neovascularization Is Suppressed With Activation of TREM2 in Mononuclear Phagocytes—Brief Report}},
journal = {Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1161/atvbaha.124.321809},
pmid = {40143815},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1161/atvbaha.124.321809}
}
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