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TREM2 macrophages drive NK cell paucity and dysfunction in lung cancer
Park MD, Reyes-Torres I, LeBerichel J, Hamon P, LaMarche NM, Hegde S, Belabed M, Troncoso L et al.. Nature immunology, 2023-04-20
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Natural killer (NK) cells are commonly reduced in human tumors, enabling many to evade surveillance. Here, we sought to identify cues that alter NK cell activity in tumors. We found that, in human lung cancer, the presence of NK cells inversely correlated with that of monocyte-derived macrophages (mo-macs).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Park, M. D., Reyes-Torres, I., LeBerichel, J., Hamon, P., LaMarche, N. M., Hegde, S., et al. (2023). TREM2 macrophages drive NK cell paucity and dysfunction in lung cancer. Nature immunology. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-023-01475-4
Vancouver
Park MD, Reyes-Torres I, LeBerichel J, Hamon P, LaMarche NM, Hegde S, et al. TREM2 macrophages drive NK cell paucity and dysfunction in lung cancer. Nature immunology. 2023. doi:10.1038/s41590-023-01475-4. PMID: 37081148.
BibTeX
@article{park2023-37081148,
author = {Park, M. D. and Reyes-Torres, I. and LeBerichel, J. and Hamon, P. and LaMarche, N. M. and Hegde, S. and Belabed, M. and Troncoso, L. and others},
title = {{TREM2 macrophages drive NK cell paucity and dysfunction in lung cancer}},
journal = {Nature immunology},
year = {2023},
doi = {10.1038/s41590-023-01475-4},
pmid = {37081148},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-023-01475-4}
}
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Key findings
- Here, we sought to identify cues that alter NK cell activity in tumors.
- We found that, in human lung cancer, the presence of NK cells inversely correlated with that of monocyte-derived macrophages (mo-macs).
- In a murine model of lung adenocarcinoma, we show that engulfment of tumor debris by mo-macs triggers a pro-tumorigenic program governed by triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2).
- Genetic deletion of Trem2 rescued NK cell accumulation and enabled an NK cell-mediated regression of lung tumors.
Why it matters
This study is about lung cancer, where TREM2 in monocyte-derived macrophages suppressed NK cells and deleting Trem2 in mice allowed NK cell-mediated tumor regression. It does not concern Alzheimer's disease and reports no treatment for it.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 55/100
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 (Nature immunology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Nature Immunology: journal h-index 526 (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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 244 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 48.8 citations a year over 5 year(s) since 2023 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 21.7× 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 | 4 / 4 | Cited 223 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Miriam Mérad: h-index 139 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Austrian Academy of Sciences: institution h-index 2,166 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 8 institution(s) in 4 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 37081148) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 55 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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