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TREM-2 (triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2) is a phagocytic receptor for bacteria
Elsa-Noah N’Diaye, Catherine Branda, Steven S. Branda, Lisette Nevarez, Marco Colonna, Clifford A. Lowell, Jessica A. Hamerman, William E. Seaman. The Journal of Cell Biology, 2009-01-26
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Phagocytosis, which is essential for the immune response to pathogens, is initiated by specific interactions between pathogens and cell surface receptors expressed by phagocytes. This study identifies triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM-2) and its signaling counterpart DAP12 as a molecular complex that promotes phagocytosis of bacteria. Expression of TREM-2-DAP12 enables nonphagocytic Chinese hamster ovary cells to internalize bacteria. This function depends on actin cytoskeleton dynamics and the activity of the small guanosine triphosphatases Rac and Cdc42. Internalization also requires src kinase activity and tyrosine phosphorylation. In bone marrow-derived macrophages, phagocytosis is decreased in the absence of DAP12 and can be restored by expression of TREM-2-DAP12. Depletion of TREM-2 inhibits both binding and uptake of bacteria. Finally, TREM-2-dependent phagocytosis is impaired in Syk-deficient macrophages. This study highlights a novel role for TREM-2-DAP12 in the immune response to bacterial pathogens.
Why it matters
Finds that TREM-2, together with its signaling partner DAP12, promotes the uptake (phagocytosis) of bacteria by cells. In these lab experiments, depleting TREM-2 reduced both binding and uptake of bacteria. It does not study Alzheimer's disease.
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How this study scored 48/100
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. We have no data on strength of evidence, so that was left out: it earned 46 of the 95 points we could judge it on, which is 48 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The Journal of Cell Biology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | The Journal of Cell Biology: journal h-index 597 (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 | — / 5 | No evidence rating recorded — left out of this score |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2009 — within 20 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 239 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 12.6 citations a year over 19 year(s) since 2009 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.4× 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 | 2 / 4 | Cited 31 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author William E. Seaman: h-index 56 (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 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 19171755) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 46 / 95 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 46 of the 95 points we could judge it on is 48 out of 100. |
| Total | 48 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1083/jcb.200808080
- PubMed: 19171755
- Original source →
- Free full text: The Journal of Cell Biology →
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 names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
N’Diaye, E.-N., Branda, C., Branda, S. S., Nevarez, L., Colonna, M., Lowell, C. A., et al. (2009). TREM-2 (triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2) is a phagocytic receptor for bacteria. The Journal of Cell Biology. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.200808080
Vancouver
N’Diaye E.-N, Branda C, Branda SS, Nevarez L, Colonna M, Lowell CA, et al. TREM-2 (triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2) is a phagocytic receptor for bacteria. The Journal of Cell Biology. 2009. doi:10.1083/jcb.200808080. PMID: 19171755.
BibTeX
@article{ndiaye2009-19171755,
author = {N’Diaye, Elsa-Noah and Branda, Catherine and Branda, Steven S. and Nevarez, Lisette and Colonna, Marco and Lowell, Clifford A. and Hamerman, Jessica A. and Seaman, William E.},
title = {{TREM-2 (triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2) is a phagocytic receptor for bacteria}},
journal = {The Journal of Cell Biology},
year = {2009},
doi = {10.1083/jcb.200808080},
pmid = {19171755},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.200808080}
}
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