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The Microglial Innate Immune Receptor TREM2 Is Required for Synapse Elimination and Normal Brain Connectivity
Filipello F, Morini R, Corradini I, Zerbi V, Canzi A, Michalski B, Erreni M, Markicevic M et al.. Immunity, 2018-05-08
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
The triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) is a microglial innate immune receptor associated with a lethal form of early, progressive dementia, Nasu-Hakola disease, and with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. Microglial defects in phagocytosis of toxic aggregates or apoptotic membranes were proposed to be at the origin of the pathological processes in the presence of Trem2 inactivating mutations. Here, we show that TREM2 is essential for microglia-mediated synaptic refinement during the early stages of brain development.
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APA 7th
Filipello, F., Morini, R., Corradini, I., Zerbi, V., Canzi, A., Michalski, B., et al. (2018). The Microglial Innate Immune Receptor TREM2 Is Required for Synapse Elimination and Normal Brain Connectivity. Immunity. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2018.04.016
Vancouver
Filipello F, Morini R, Corradini I, Zerbi V, Canzi A, Michalski B, et al. The Microglial Innate Immune Receptor TREM2 Is Required for Synapse Elimination and Normal Brain Connectivity. Immunity. 2018. doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2018.04.016. PMID: 29752066.
BibTeX
@article{filipello2018-29752066,
author = {Filipello, F. and Morini, R. and Corradini, I. and Zerbi, V. and Canzi, A. and Michalski, B. and Erreni, M. and Markicevic, M. and others},
title = {{The Microglial Innate Immune Receptor TREM2 Is Required for Synapse Elimination and Normal Brain Connectivity}},
journal = {Immunity},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.1016/j.immuni.2018.04.016},
pmid = {29752066},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2018.04.016}
}
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Key findings
- Microglial defects in phagocytosis of toxic aggregates or apoptotic membranes were proposed to be at the origin of the pathological processes in the presence of Trem2 inactivating mutations.
- Here, we show that TREM2 is essential for microglia-mediated synaptic refinement during the early stages of brain development.
- The absence of Trem2 resulted in impaired synapse elimination, accompanied by enhanced excitatory neurotransmission and reduced long-range functional connectivity.
- Trem2 -/- mice displayed repetitive behavior and altered sociability.
Why it matters
In mice, absence of Trem2 impaired synapse elimination during early brain development, with enhanced excitatory neurotransmission and reduced long-range connectivity. It is animal work on brain development and does not test an Alzheimer's treatment or cure.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 57/100
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 (Immunity) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Immunity: journal h-index 567 (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 | 2 / 5 | 2018 — within 10 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 | 6 / 7 | Cited 696 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 69.6 citations a year over 10 year(s) since 2018 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 21.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 4 / 6 | Cited by 41 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 4 / 4 | Cited 269 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Michela Matteoli: h-index 74 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Washington University in St. Louis: institution h-index 1,962 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 7 institution(s) in 4 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 29752066) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 57 / 100 | — |
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