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50/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 50 out of 100. TREM2 and immune genetics

Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models

A total of 12 studies were included, with overall moderate risk of bias, mainly due to inadequate randomization and blinding. In APP/PS1 mice, TREM2 overexpression significantly reduced Aβ plaque number (SMD = - 0.87; 95% CI, - 1.28 to - 0.47) and plaque area (SMD = - 0.98; 95% CI, - 1.46 to - 0.50), with more pronounced effects observed in younger mice (≤ 7 months), where reductions in insoluble Aβ42 were also observed; phosphorylated Tau levels decreased as well. Our findings reveal that therapeutic efficacy is governed by disease stage, model pathological complexity, and intervention mode.

Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris

APA 7th

Liao, Y., Ye, S., Zhao, L., Zhou, M., Wen, Y., Zhu, Y., et al. (2026). Gain-of-function Modulation of TREM2 and its Impact on Amyloid-β and Tau Pathologies in Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Animal Studies. Molecular neurobiology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-026-05925-6

Vancouver

Liao Y, Ye S, Zhao L, Zhou M, Wen Y, Zhu Y, et al. Gain-of-function Modulation of TREM2 and its Impact on Amyloid-β and Tau Pathologies in Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Animal Studies. Molecular neurobiology. 2026. doi:10.1007/s12035-026-05925-6. PMID: 42230432.

BibTeX

@article{liao2026-42230432,
  author  = {Liao, Y. and Ye, S. and Zhao, L. and Zhou, M. and Wen, Y. and Zhu, Y. and Huang, J. and Zhang, L. and others},
  title   = {{Gain-of-function Modulation of TREM2 and its Impact on Amyloid-β and Tau Pathologies in Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Animal Studies}},
  journal = {Molecular neurobiology},
  year    = {2026},
  doi     = {10.1007/s12035-026-05925-6},
  pmid    = {42230432},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-026-05925-6}
}

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Key findings

A total of 12 studies were included, with overall moderate risk of bias, mainly due to inadequate randomization and blinding.
In APP/PS1 mice, TREM2 overexpression significantly reduced Aβ plaque number (SMD = - 0.87; 95% CI, - 1.28 to - 0.47) and plaque area (SMD = - 0.98; 95% CI, - 1.46 to - 0.50), with more pronounced effects observed in younger mice (≤ 7 months), where reductions in insoluble Aβ42 were also observed; phosphorylated Tau levels decreased as well.
Our findings reveal that therapeutic efficacy is governed by disease stage, model pathological complexity, and intervention mode.

Why it matters

Pooling 12 animal studies, this meta-analysis found that boosting TREM2, a receptor on microglia (the brain's immune cells), reduced amyloid plaque number and area in APP/PS1 mice, with stronger effects in younger mice; phosphorylated tau also fell. Overall risk of bias was moderate, mainly because of inadequate randomization and blinding. Because these are mouse results, they point to TREM2 as a possible treatment target whose benefit may depend on disease stage, not to a proven therapy for people.

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Study details

Study designsystematic review
Participants12
Evidence strengthHigh

How this study scored 50/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	7 / 10	Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Molecular neurobiology)
Journal's citation record	2 / 4	Molecular Neurobiology: journal h-index 176 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	12 / 12	A systematic review of all the studies on the question
Strength of evidence	5 / 5	Rated “high” in our summary
Peer-review validation	10 / 10	Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal.
How recent	5 / 5	2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here
Sample size	1 / 4	12 participants
Effect reported	0 / 3	No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Studied in people	3 / 3	Studied in people (participant count stated)
Randomized / blinded	0 / 2	A review of other studies — randomization is not credited here
Times cited	0 / 7	Cited 0 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	0 / 5	0.0 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026
Impact for its field and year	0 / 6	Cited 0.0× 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	0 / 4	Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	1 / 4	Last-listed author Yuhuan Xie: h-index 16 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	0 / 3	Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine: institution h-index 102 (OpenAlex)
Multicenter 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 42230432)
Free to read	2 / 2	Free to read
Total	50 / 100	—

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