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Sphingosine-1-phosphate, a novel TREM2 ligand, promotes microglial phagocytosis to protect against ischemic brain injury
Xue T, Ji J, Sun Y, Huang X, Cai Z, Yang J, Guo W, Guo R et al.. Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B, 2021-10-22
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
The mechanism of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P)-mediated phagocytosis remains unknown. Here, we found that S1P or FTY720 (an analog of S1P) promoted microglial phagocytosis in stroke independent of S1PRs. First, we used computer simulation of molecular docking to predict that S1P might be a ligand for triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2).
Key findings
- Here, we found that S1P or FTY720 (an analog of S1P) promoted microglial phagocytosis in stroke independent of S1PRs.
- First, we used computer simulation of molecular docking to predict that S1P might be a ligand for triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2).
- Next, microscale thermophoresis (MST), surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were performed to reveal that S1P was a novel TREM2 ligand.
- Then, we confirmed the pro-phagocytosis of S1P targeting in Trem2-Dap12 transfected CHO cells and TREM2 knockdown microglia.
Why it matters
This study found that sphingosine-1-phosphate acts as a TREM2 ligand and promoted microglial phagocytosis in stroke. It does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 45/100
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 (Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B: journal h-index 168 (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 | 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 82 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 13.7 citations a year over 6 year(s) since 2022 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 62 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Xiu‐Lan Sun: h-index 36 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Nanjing Medical University: institution h-index 508 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 35847502) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.10.012
- PubMed: 35847502
- Original source →
- Free full text: Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B →
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
Xue, T., Ji, J., Sun, Y., Huang, X., Cai, Z., Yang, J., et al. (2022). Sphingosine-1-phosphate, a novel TREM2 ligand, promotes microglial phagocytosis to protect against ischemic brain injury. Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsb.2021.10.012
Vancouver
Xue T, Ji J, Sun Y, Huang X, Cai Z, Yang J, et al. Sphingosine-1-phosphate, a novel TREM2 ligand, promotes microglial phagocytosis to protect against ischemic brain injury. Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B. 2022. doi:10.1016/j.apsb.2021.10.012. PMID: 35847502.
BibTeX
@article{xue2022-35847502,
author = {Xue, T. and Ji, J. and Sun, Y. and Huang, X. and Cai, Z. and Yang, J. and Guo, W. and Guo, R. and others},
title = {{Sphingosine-1-phosphate, a novel TREM2 ligand, promotes microglial phagocytosis to protect against ischemic brain injury}},
journal = {Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B},
year = {2022},
doi = {10.1016/j.apsb.2021.10.012},
pmid = {35847502},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsb.2021.10.012}
}
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