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Trem2 Agonist Reprograms Foamy Macrophages to Promote Atherosclerotic Plaque Stability-Brief Report
Patterson MT, Xu Y, Hillman H, Osinski V, Schrank PR, Kennedy AE, Barrow F, Zhu A et al.. Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology, 2024-05-02
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Background Trem2 (triggering receptor on myeloid cells 2), a surface lipid receptor, is expressed on foamy macrophages within atherosclerotic lesions and regulates cell survival, proliferation, and anti-inflammatory responses. Studies examining the role of Trem2 in atherosclerosis have shown that deletion of Trem2 leads to impaired foamy macrophage lipid uptake, proliferation, survival, and cholesterol efflux. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that administration of a Trem2 agonist antibody (AL002a) to atherogenic mice would enhance macrophage survival and decrease necrotic core formation to improve plaque stability.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Patterson, M. T., Xu, Y., Hillman, H., Osinski, V., Schrank, P. R., Kennedy, A. E., et al. (2024). Trem2 Agonist Reprograms Foamy Macrophages to Promote Atherosclerotic Plaque Stability-Brief Report. Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology. https://doi.org/10.1161/atvbaha.124.320797
Vancouver
Patterson MT, Xu Y, Hillman H, Osinski V, Schrank PR, Kennedy AE, et al. Trem2 Agonist Reprograms Foamy Macrophages to Promote Atherosclerotic Plaque Stability-Brief Report. Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology. 2024. doi:10.1161/atvbaha.124.320797. PMID: 38695172.
BibTeX
@article{patterson2024-38695172,
author = {Patterson, M. T. and Xu, Y. and Hillman, H. and Osinski, V. and Schrank, P. R. and Kennedy, A. E. and Barrow, F. and Zhu, A. and others},
title = {{Trem2 Agonist Reprograms Foamy Macrophages to Promote Atherosclerotic Plaque Stability-Brief Report}},
journal = {Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology},
year = {2024},
doi = {10.1161/atvbaha.124.320797},
pmid = {38695172},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1161/atvbaha.124.320797}
}
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.
Key findings
- Studies examining the role of Trem2 in atherosclerosis have shown that deletion of Trem2 leads to impaired foamy macrophage lipid uptake, proliferation, survival, and cholesterol efflux.
- Thus, we tested the hypothesis that administration of a Trem2 agonist antibody (AL002a) to atherogenic mice would enhance macrophage survival and decrease necrotic core formation to improve plaque stability.
- Methods To model a therapeutic intervention approach, atherosclerosis-prone mice (Ldlr [low-density lipoprotein receptor] -/- ) were fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks, then transitioned to treatment with AL002a or isotype control for an additional 8 weeks while continuing on a high-fat diet.
- Results AL002a-treated mice had increased lesion size in both the aortic root and whole mount aorta, which correlated with an expansion of plaque macrophage area.
Why it matters
This mouse study tested a Trem2 agonist antibody (AL002a) in atherosclerosis-prone mice to see whether it would improve plaque stability. It concerns atherosclerosis in mice and does not report any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology: journal h-index 340 (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 | 2024 — 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) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 72 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 18.0 citations a year over 4 year(s) since 2024 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 71 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Jesse W. Williams: h-index 42 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Minnesota: institution h-index 1,568 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 38695172) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.124.320797
- PubMed: 38695172
- Original source →
- Free full text: Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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