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SMOC2 promotes microglia activity and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease
Tianchi Wan, Chunkai Wang. Journal of Alzheimer s Disease, 2025-01-10
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Aβ treatment inhibited microglial activity and phagocytosis, but SMOC2 disruption enhanced these functions (p < 0.05). SMOC2 overexpression increased its expression and Aβ levels, while interference reduced them (p < 0.001). SMOC2 overexpression also decreased TGF-β1, CD163, and CD206, and increased p-NF-κB/NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1β (p < 0.05). SMOC2 plays a crucial role in microglial cell activity, phagocytosis, and polarization, potentially through the TGF-β1/NF-κB pathway, offering insights into AD pathogenesis.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Wan, T., & Wang, C. (2025). SMOC2 promotes microglia activity and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Alzheimer s Disease. https://doi.org/10.1177/13872877241307337
Vancouver
Wan T, Wang C. SMOC2 promotes microglia activity and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease. Journal of Alzheimer s Disease. 2025. doi:10.1177/13872877241307337. PMID: 39791204.
BibTeX
@article{wan2025-39791204,
author = {Wan, Tianchi and Wang, Chunkai},
title = {{SMOC2 promotes microglia activity and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease}},
journal = {Journal of Alzheimer s Disease},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1177/13872877241307337},
pmid = {39791204},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/13872877241307337}
}
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.
Key findings
- Aβ treatment inhibited microglial activity and phagocytosis, but SMOC2 disruption enhanced these functions (p < 0.05).
- SMOC2 overexpression increased its expression and Aβ levels, while interference reduced them (p < 0.001).
- SMOC2 overexpression also decreased TGF-β1, CD163, and CD206, and increased p-NF-κB/NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1β (p < 0.05).
- SMOC2 plays a crucial role in microglial cell activity, phagocytosis, and polarization, potentially through the TGF-β1/NF-κB pathway, offering insights into AD pathogenesis.
Why it matters
In this laboratory study, disrupting SMOC2 enhanced microglial activity and phagocytosis while reducing amyloid beta levels, and SMOC2 appears to act through the TGF-β1/NF-κB pathway. These findings offer insight into Alzheimer's mechanisms but are preliminary and do not show a treatment for people.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 33/100
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 Alzheimer s Disease) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Alzheimer s Disease: journal h-index 218 (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 6 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.8× 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 6 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Chunkai Wang: h-index 18 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | The Affiliated Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University: institution h-index 254 (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 39791204) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 33 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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