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Expression of the phagocytosis-essential protein TREM2 is down-regulated by an aluminum-induced miRNA-34a in a murine microglial cell line
Alexandrov PN, Zhao Y, Jones BM, Bhattacharjee S, Lukiw WJ.. Journal of inorganic biochemistry, 2013-05-29
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
One of the key classical pathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the progressive accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ42) peptides and their coalescence into highly insoluble senile plaque cores. A major factor driving Aβ42 peptide accumulation is the inability of brain cells to effectively clear excessive amounts of Aβ42 via phagocytosis. The trans-membrane spanning, sensor-receptor known as the "triggering receptor expressed in myeloid cells 2" (TREM2; chr6p21) is essential in the sensing, recognition, phagocytosis and clearance of noxious cellular debris from brain cells, including neurotoxic Aβ42 peptides.
Key findings
- A major factor driving Aβ42 peptide accumulation is the inability of brain cells to effectively clear excessive amounts of Aβ42 via phagocytosis.
- The trans-membrane spanning, sensor-receptor known as the "triggering receptor expressed in myeloid cells 2" (TREM2; chr6p21) is essential in the sensing, recognition, phagocytosis and clearance of noxious cellular debris from brain cells, including neurotoxic Aβ42 peptides.
- Recently, mutations in the TREM2 gene have been associated with amyloidogenesis in neurodegenerative diseases including AD.
- In this report, we provide evidence that aluminum-sulfate, when incubated with microglial cells, induces the up-regulation of an NF-кB-sensitive micro RNA-34a (miRNA-34a; chr1p36) that is known to target the TREM2 mRNA 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR), significantly down-regulating TREM2 expression.
Why it matters
In a mouse microglial cell line, aluminum-induced miRNA-34a reduced TREM2 expression, a protein needed for clearing amyloid beta. This is laboratory cell research only and reports no treatment, cure or prevention for people.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 36/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of inorganic biochemistry) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry: journal h-index 164 (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 | 2013 — 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 | Laboratory or animal study (title names “murine”) — scores zero |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 67 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.5 citations a year over 15 year(s) since 2013 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 14 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Walter J. Lukiw: h-index 75 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans: institution h-index 503 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 23778113) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 36 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2013.05.010
- PubMed: 23778113
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
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. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Alexandrov, P. N., Zhao, Y., Jones, B. M., Bhattacharjee, S., & Lukiw, W. J. (2013). Expression of the phagocytosis-essential protein TREM2 is down-regulated by an aluminum-induced miRNA-34a in a murine microglial cell line. Journal of inorganic biochemistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2013.05.010
Vancouver
Alexandrov PN, Zhao Y, Jones BM, Bhattacharjee S, Lukiw WJ. Expression of the phagocytosis-essential protein TREM2 is down-regulated by an aluminum-induced miRNA-34a in a murine microglial cell line. Journal of inorganic biochemistry. 2013. doi:10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2013.05.010. PMID: 23778113.
BibTeX
@article{alexandrov2013-23778113,
author = {Alexandrov, P. N. and Zhao, Y. and Jones, B. M. and Bhattacharjee, S. and Lukiw, W. J.},
title = {{Expression of the phagocytosis-essential protein TREM2 is down-regulated by an aluminum-induced miRNA-34a in a murine microglial cell line}},
journal = {Journal of inorganic biochemistry},
year = {2013},
doi = {10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2013.05.010},
pmid = {23778113},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2013.05.010}
}
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