Home › Research › TREM2 and immune genetics
TREM2 protects from atherosclerosis by limiting necrotic core formation
Piollet M, Porsch F, Rizzo G, Kapser F, Schulz DJJ, Kiss MG, Schlepckow K, Morenas-Rodriguez E et al.. Nature cardiovascular research, 2024-03-12
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease of the vascular wall driven by lipid accumulation and inflammation in the intimal layer of arteries, and its main complications, myocardial infarction and stroke, are the leading cause of mortality worldwide [1], [2]. Recent studies have identified Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), a lipid-sensing receptor regulating myeloid cell functions [3], to be highly expressed in macrophage foam cells in experimental and human atherosclerosis [4]. However, the role of TREM2 in atherosclerosis is not fully known.
Key findings
- Recent studies have identified Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), a lipid-sensing receptor regulating myeloid cell functions [3], to be highly expressed in macrophage foam cells in experimental and human atherosclerosis [4].
- However, the role of TREM2 in atherosclerosis is not fully known.
- Here, we show that hematopoietic or global TREM2 deficiency increased, whereas TREM2 agonism decreased necrotic core formation in early atherosclerosis.
- We demonstrate that TREM2 is essential for the efferocytosis capacities of macrophages, and to the survival of lipid-laden macrophages, indicating a crucial role of TREM2 in maintaining the balance between foam cell death and clearance of dead cells in atherosclerotic lesions, thereby controlling plaque necrosis.
Why it matters
This study found that TREM2 deficiency increased and TREM2 agonism decreased necrotic core formation in early atherosclerosis in mice. It concerns vascular disease, not Alzheimer's disease, and offers no treatment for dementia.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Genetics →
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 49/100
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 cardiovascular research) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Nature Cardiovascular Research: journal h-index 58 (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 | 4 / 5 | 2024 — within 3 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 114 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 28.5 citations a year over 4 year(s) since 2024 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 15.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 114 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Clément Cochain: h-index 37 (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 8 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 38974464) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 49 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1038/s44161-024-00429-9
- PubMed: 38974464
- Original source →
- Free full text: Nature Cardiovascular Research →
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
Piollet, M., Porsch, F., Rizzo, G., Kapser, F., Schulz, D. J. J., Kiss, M. G., et al. (2024). TREM2 protects from atherosclerosis by limiting necrotic core formation. Nature cardiovascular research. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44161-024-00429-9
Vancouver
Piollet M, Porsch F, Rizzo G, Kapser F, Schulz DJJ, Kiss MG, et al. TREM2 protects from atherosclerosis by limiting necrotic core formation. Nature cardiovascular research. 2024. doi:10.1038/s44161-024-00429-9. PMID: 38974464.
BibTeX
@article{piollet2024-38974464,
author = {Piollet, M. and Porsch, F. and Rizzo, G. and Kapser, F. and Schulz, D. J. J. and Kiss, M. G. and Schlepckow, K. and Morenas-Rodriguez, E. and others},
title = {{TREM2 protects from atherosclerosis by limiting necrotic core formation}},
journal = {Nature cardiovascular research},
year = {2024},
doi = {10.1038/s44161-024-00429-9},
pmid = {38974464},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s44161-024-00429-9}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here. Showing 12 of 13.
Related studies in TREM2 and immune genetics
Also tagged “macrophages”
363 studies in the library carry the topic tag “macrophages”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 363 tagged studies.