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TREM2 promotes cholesterol uptake and foam cell formation in atherosclerosis
Guo X, Li B, Wen C, Zhang F, Xiang X, Nie L, Chen J, Mao L.. Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS, 2023-05-03
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Disordered lipid accumulation in the arterial wall is a hallmark of atherosclerosis. Previous studies found that the expression of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), a transmembrane receptor of the immunoglobulin family, is increased in mouse atherosclerotic aortic plaques. However, it remains unknown whether TREM2 plays a role in atherosclerosis.
Key findings
- Previous studies found that the expression of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), a transmembrane receptor of the immunoglobulin family, is increased in mouse atherosclerotic aortic plaques.
- However, it remains unknown whether TREM2 plays a role in atherosclerosis.
- Here we investigated the role of TREM2 in atherosclerosis using ApoE knockout (ApoE -/- ) mouse models, primary vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs).
- In ApoE -/- mice, the density of TREM2-positive foam cells in aortic plaques increased in a time-dependent manner after the mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD).
Why it matters
In atherosclerosis-prone mice and cells, TREM2 promoted cholesterol uptake and foam cell formation, a process tied to artery disease. This concerns heart and blood vessel disease rather than Alzheimer's, so it does not directly inform Alzheimer's treatment, cure or prevention.
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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 (Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences: journal h-index 329 (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 92 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 18.4 citations a year over 5 year(s) since 2023 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 8.2× 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 82 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Ling Mao: h-index 38 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Huazhong University of Science and Technology: institution h-index 934 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 37133566) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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 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
Guo, X., Li, B., Wen, C., Zhang, F., Xiang, X., Nie, L., et al. (2023). TREM2 promotes cholesterol uptake and foam cell formation in atherosclerosis. Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-023-04786-9
Vancouver
Guo X, Li B, Wen C, Zhang F, Xiang X, Nie L, et al. TREM2 promotes cholesterol uptake and foam cell formation in atherosclerosis. Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS. 2023. doi:10.1007/s00018-023-04786-9. PMID: 37133566.
BibTeX
@article{guo2023-37133566,
author = {Guo, X. and Li, B. and Wen, C. and Zhang, F. and Xiang, X. and Nie, L. and Chen, J. and Mao, L.},
title = {{TREM2 promotes cholesterol uptake and foam cell formation in atherosclerosis}},
journal = {Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS},
year = {2023},
doi = {10.1007/s00018-023-04786-9},
pmid = {37133566},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-023-04786-9}
}
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