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TREM2-mediated early microglial response limits diffusion and toxicity of amyloid plaques
Wang Y, Ulland TK, Ulrich JD, Song W, Tzaferis JA, Hole JT, Yuan P, Mahan TE et al.. The Journal of experimental medicine, 2016-04-18
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) is a microglial receptor that recognizes changes in the lipid microenvironment, which may occur during amyloid β (Aβ) accumulation and neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Rare TREM2 variants that affect TREM2 function lead to an increased risk of developing AD. In murine models of AD, TREM2 deficiency prevents microglial clustering around Aβ deposits.
Key findings
- Rare TREM2 variants that affect TREM2 function lead to an increased risk of developing AD.
- In murine models of AD, TREM2 deficiency prevents microglial clustering around Aβ deposits.
- However, the origin of myeloid cells surrounding amyloid and the impact of TREM2 on Aβ accumulation are a matter of debate.
- Using parabiosis, we found that amyloid-associated myeloid cells derive from brain-resident microglia rather than from recruitment of peripheral blood monocytes.
Why it matters
In mouse models, TREM2 deficiency prevented microglial clustering around amyloid-beta deposits, and amyloid-associated myeloid cells came from brain-resident microglia. It is animal work on a mechanism and does not test a treatment or cure.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 60/100
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 (The Journal of experimental medicine) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | The Journal of Experimental Medicine: journal h-index 652 (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 | 1 / 5 | 2016 — 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 | 6 / 7 | Cited 838 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 69.8 citations a year over 12 year(s) since 2016 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 29.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 5 / 6 | Cited by 150 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 4 / 4 | Cited 221 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Marco Colonna: h-index 172 (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 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 27091843) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 60 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1084/jem.20151948
- PubMed: 27091843
- Original source →
- Free full text: The Journal of Experimental Medicine →
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's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Wang, Y., Ulland, T. K., Ulrich, J. D., Song, W., Tzaferis, J. A., Hole, J. T., et al. (2016). TREM2-mediated early microglial response limits diffusion and toxicity of amyloid plaques. The Journal of experimental medicine. https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20151948
Vancouver
Wang Y, Ulland TK, Ulrich JD, Song W, Tzaferis JA, Hole JT, et al. TREM2-mediated early microglial response limits diffusion and toxicity of amyloid plaques. The Journal of experimental medicine. 2016. doi:10.1084/jem.20151948. PMID: 27091843.
BibTeX
@article{wang2016-27091843,
author = {Wang, Y. and Ulland, T. K. and Ulrich, J. D. and Song, W. and Tzaferis, J. A. and Hole, J. T. and Yuan, P. and Mahan, T. E. and others},
title = {{TREM2-mediated early microglial response limits diffusion and toxicity of amyloid plaques}},
journal = {The Journal of experimental medicine},
year = {2016},
doi = {10.1084/jem.20151948},
pmid = {27091843},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20151948}
}
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