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TREM2 alters the phagocytic, apoptotic and inflammatory response to Aβ42 in HMC3 cells
Akhter R, Shao Y, Formica S, Khrestian M, Bekris LM.. Molecular immunology, 2021-01-15
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation in the brain of extracellular amyloid β (Aβ) plaques as well as intraneuronal inclusions (neurofibrillary tangles) consisting of total tau and phosphorylated tau. Also present are dystrophic neurites, loss of synapses, neuronal death, and gliosis. AD genetic studies have highlighted the importance of inflammation in this disease by identifying several risk associated immune response genes, including TREM2.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Akhter, R., Shao, Y., Formica, S., Khrestian, M., & Bekris, L. M. (2021). TREM2 alters the phagocytic, apoptotic and inflammatory response to Aβ42 in HMC3 cells. Molecular immunology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molimm.2020.12.035
Vancouver
Akhter R, Shao Y, Formica S, Khrestian M, Bekris LM. TREM2 alters the phagocytic, apoptotic and inflammatory response to Aβ42 in HMC3 cells. Molecular immunology. 2021. doi:10.1016/j.molimm.2020.12.035. PMID: 33461764.
BibTeX
@article{akhter2021-33461764,
author = {Akhter, R. and Shao, Y. and Formica, S. and Khrestian, M. and Bekris, L. M.},
title = {{TREM2 alters the phagocytic, apoptotic and inflammatory response to Aβ42 in HMC3 cells}},
journal = {Molecular immunology},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.1016/j.molimm.2020.12.035},
pmid = {33461764},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molimm.2020.12.035}
}
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Key findings
- Also present are dystrophic neurites, loss of synapses, neuronal death, and gliosis.
- AD genetic studies have highlighted the importance of inflammation in this disease by identifying several risk associated immune response genes, including TREM2.
- TREM2 has been strongly implicated in basic microglia function including, phagocytosis, apoptosis, and the inflammatory response to Aβ in mouse brain and primary cells.
- These studies show that microglia are key players in the response to Aβ and in the accumulation of AD pathology.
Why it matters
Using HMC3 cells, this study examined how TREM2 alters phagocytic, apoptotic and inflammatory responses to amyloid beta 42. These are cell-based laboratory findings and do not demonstrate a treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Genetics →
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 42/100
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 (Molecular immunology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Molecular Immunology: journal h-index 180 (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 | 2021 — 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 68 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 9.7 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 4 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 47 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Lynn M. Bekris: h-index 32 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Cleveland Clinic: institution h-index 1,139 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33461764) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 42 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2020.12.035
- PubMed: 33461764
- Original source →
- Free full text: bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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