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TREM2-induced activation of microglia contributes to synaptic integrity in cognitively intact aged individuals with Alzheimer's neuropathology
Fracassi A, Marcatti M, Tumurbaatar B, Woltjer R, Moreno S, Taglialatela G.. Brain pathology (Zurich, Switzerland), 2022-07-11
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
The existence of individuals who remain cognitively intact despite presenting histopathological signs of Alzheimer's disease (AD), here referred to as "Nondemented with AD neuropathology" (NDAN), suggests that some mechanisms are triggered to resist cognitive impairment. Exposed phosphatidylserine (ePS) represents a neuronal "eat-me" signal involved in microglial-mediated phagocytosis of damaged synapses. A possible mediator of this process is TREM2, a microglial surface receptor activated by ligands including PS.
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APA 7th
Fracassi, A., Marcatti, M., Tumurbaatar, B., Woltjer, R., Moreno, S., & Taglialatela, G. (2023). TREM2-induced activation of microglia contributes to synaptic integrity in cognitively intact aged individuals with Alzheimer's neuropathology. Brain pathology (Zurich, Switzerland). https://doi.org/10.1111/bpa.13108
Vancouver
Fracassi A, Marcatti M, Tumurbaatar B, Woltjer R, Moreno S, Taglialatela G. TREM2-induced activation of microglia contributes to synaptic integrity in cognitively intact aged individuals with Alzheimer's neuropathology. Brain pathology (Zurich, Switzerland). 2023. doi:10.1111/bpa.13108. PMID: 35816404.
BibTeX
@article{fracassi2023-35816404,
author = {Fracassi, A. and Marcatti, M. and Tumurbaatar, B. and Woltjer, R. and Moreno, S. and Taglialatela, G.},
title = {{TREM2-induced activation of microglia contributes to synaptic integrity in cognitively intact aged individuals with Alzheimer's neuropathology}},
journal = {Brain pathology (Zurich, Switzerland)},
year = {2023},
doi = {10.1111/bpa.13108},
pmid = {35816404},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/bpa.13108}
}
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Key findings
- Exposed phosphatidylserine (ePS) represents a neuronal "eat-me" signal involved in microglial-mediated phagocytosis of damaged synapses.
- A possible mediator of this process is TREM2, a microglial surface receptor activated by ligands including PS.
- Based on TREM2 role in the scavenging function of microglia, we hypothesize that an efficient microglial phagocytosis of damaged synapses underlies synaptic resilience in NDAN, thus protecting from memory deficits.
- Using immunofluorescence microscopy, we performed a comparative study of human post-mortem frontal cortices of aged-matched, AD and NDAN individuals.
Why it matters
In people who remained cognitively intact despite having Alzheimer's brain pathology, TREM2-related microglial activity appeared to help clear damaged synapses and preserve synaptic integrity. This suggests a possible protective mechanism, but it is an observational study and not a treatment or prevention trial.
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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 (Brain pathology (Zurich, Switzerland)) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Brain Pathology: journal h-index 183 (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 | 2023 — 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 90 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 18.0 citations a year over 5 year(s) since 2023 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.9× 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 74 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Giulio Taglialatela: h-index 45 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Oregon Health & Science University: institution h-index 1,025 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 35816404) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
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