Home › Research › TREM2 and immune genetics
Soluble TREM2 levels associate with conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease
Zhao A, Jiao Y, Ye G, Kang W, Tan L, Li Y, Deng Y, Liu J et al.. The Journal of clinical investigation, 2022-12-15
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
BACKGROUNDSoluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2) plays an important role in the clearance of pathological amyloid-β (Aβ) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aimed to explore sTREM2 as a central and peripheral predictor of the conversion from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to AD.METHODSsTREM2 and Aβ1-42 levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and florbetapir-PET (AV45) images were analyzed for healthy control (HCs), patients with MCI, and patients with AD from the ADNI database. Peripheral plasma sTREM2 and Aβ1-42 levels were determined for our Neurology database of Ruijin Hospital for Alzheimer's Disease (NRHAD) cohort, and patients with MCI were reevaluated at follow-up visits to assess for progression to AD.
Key findings
- This study aimed to explore sTREM2 as a central and peripheral predictor of the conversion from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to AD.METHODSsTREM2 and Aβ1-42 levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and florbetapir-PET (AV45) images were analyzed for healthy control (HCs), patients with MCI, and patients with AD from the ADNI database.
- Peripheral plasma sTREM2 and Aβ1-42 levels were determined for our Neurology database of Ruijin Hospital for Alzheimer's Disease (NRHAD) cohort, and patients with MCI were reevaluated at follow-up visits to assess for progression to AD.
- The association between CSF and plasma sTREM2 levels was analyzed in data from the Chinese Alzheimer's Biomarker and Lifestyle (CABLE) database.RESULTSThe results showed that patients with MCI who had low levels of CSF sTREM2 and Aβ1-42 were more likely to develop AD.
- Among participants with positive Aβ deposition, as assessed by AV45 imaging, elevated CSF sTREM2 levels were associated with a decreased risk of MCI-to-AD conversion.
Why it matters
This study found that soluble TREM2 levels in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma were associated with conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease. It suggests a possible predictor but does not provide a treatment or cure.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Genetics →
Study details
- Evidence strengthModerate
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 (The Journal of clinical investigation) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Journal of Clinical Investigation: journal h-index 706 (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 | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2022 — within 6 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 | 4 / 7 | Cited 69 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 11.5 citations a year over 6 year(s) since 2022 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 8.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 7 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 54 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Jun Liu: h-index 10 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Chinese Academy of Sciences: institution h-index 1,801 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 36519540) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 52 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1172/jci158708
- PubMed: 36519540
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Clinical Investigation →
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
Zhao, A., Jiao, Y., Ye, G., Kang, W., Tan, L., Li, Y., et al. (2022). Soluble TREM2 levels associate with conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease. The Journal of clinical investigation. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci158708
Vancouver
Zhao A, Jiao Y, Ye G, Kang W, Tan L, Li Y, et al. Soluble TREM2 levels associate with conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease. The Journal of clinical investigation. 2022. doi:10.1172/jci158708. PMID: 36519540.
BibTeX
@article{zhao2022-36519540,
author = {Zhao, A. and Jiao, Y. and Ye, G. and Kang, W. and Tan, L. and Li, Y. and Deng, Y. and Liu, J. and others},
title = {{Soluble TREM2 levels associate with conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease}},
journal = {The Journal of clinical investigation},
year = {2022},
doi = {10.1172/jci158708},
pmid = {36519540},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1172/jci158708}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here. Showing 12 of 29.
Later studies that cite this one
7 studies in the alzhub library list this one in their references.