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TREM2 overexpression attenuates neuroinflammation and protects dopaminergic neurons in experimental models of Parkinson's disease
Ren M, Guo Y, Wei X, Yan S, Qin Y, Zhang X, Jiang F, Lou H.. Experimental neurology, 2018-02-03
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM2) was a newly identified receptor expressed on microglia. Several observations support the hypothesis that TREM2 variation may confer susceptibility to Parkinson's disease (PD). Therefore, in this paper, we explored the role of TREM2 in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of PD.
Key findings
- Several observations support the hypothesis that TREM2 variation may confer susceptibility to Parkinson's disease (PD).
- Therefore, in this paper, we explored the role of TREM2 in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of PD.
- Our results revealed that overexpression of TREM2 remarkably reduced MPTP-induced neuropathology including the dopaminergic neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in vivo.
- Further mechanistic study revealed that TREM2 inhibited neuroinflammation by negatively regulating the TRAF6/TLR4-mediated activation of the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways.
Why it matters
In mice whose dopamine-producing neurons were damaged with the toxin MPTP (a lab model of Parkinson's disease), the authors report that raising TREM2 levels "remarkably reduced" the nerve-cell loss and brain inflammation. They trace the effect to TREM2 dampening the TLR4/TRAF6 route to MAPK and NF-κB inflammatory signalling. This is an animal study in a different disease, so it does not show any treatment or prevention for Alzheimer's disease in people.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
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 (Experimental neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Experimental Neurology: journal h-index 271 (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 | 2 / 5 | 2018 — within 10 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 119 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 11.9 citations a year over 10 year(s) since 2018 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 13 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 35 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Haiyan Lou: h-index 32 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Shandong University: institution h-index 615 (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 29407460) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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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 names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Ren, M., Guo, Y., Wei, X., Yan, S., Qin, Y., Zhang, X., et al. (2018). TREM2 overexpression attenuates neuroinflammation and protects dopaminergic neurons in experimental models of Parkinson's disease. Experimental neurology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2018.01.016
Vancouver
Ren M, Guo Y, Wei X, Yan S, Qin Y, Zhang X, et al. TREM2 overexpression attenuates neuroinflammation and protects dopaminergic neurons in experimental models of Parkinson's disease. Experimental neurology. 2018. doi:10.1016/j.expneurol.2018.01.016. PMID: 29407460.
BibTeX
@article{ren2018-29407460,
author = {Ren, M. and Guo, Y. and Wei, X. and Yan, S. and Qin, Y. and Zhang, X. and Jiang, F. and Lou, H.},
title = {{TREM2 overexpression attenuates neuroinflammation and protects dopaminergic neurons in experimental models of Parkinson's disease}},
journal = {Experimental neurology},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.1016/j.expneurol.2018.01.016},
pmid = {29407460},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2018.01.016}
}
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