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TREM2 sustains macrophage-hepatocyte metabolic coordination in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and sepsis
Hou J, Zhang J, Cui P, Zhou Y, Liu C, Wu X, Ji Y, Wang S et al.. The Journal of clinical investigation, 2021-02-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Sepsis is a leading cause of death in critical illness, and its pathophysiology varies depending on preexisting medical conditions. Here we identified nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as an independent risk factor for sepsis in a large clinical cohort and showed a link between mortality in NAFLD-associated sepsis and hepatic mitochondrial and energetic metabolism dysfunction. Using in vivo and in vitro models of liver lipid overload, we discovered a metabolic coordination between hepatocyte mitochondria and liver macrophages that express triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM2).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Hou, J., Zhang, J., Cui, P., Zhou, Y., Liu, C., Wu, X., et al. (2021). TREM2 sustains macrophage-hepatocyte metabolic coordination in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and sepsis. The Journal of clinical investigation. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci135197
Vancouver
Hou J, Zhang J, Cui P, Zhou Y, Liu C, Wu X, et al. TREM2 sustains macrophage-hepatocyte metabolic coordination in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and sepsis. The Journal of clinical investigation. 2021. doi:10.1172/jci135197. PMID: 33586673.
BibTeX
@article{hou2021-33586673,
author = {Hou, J. and Zhang, J. and Cui, P. and Zhou, Y. and Liu, C. and Wu, X. and Ji, Y. and Wang, S. and others},
title = {{TREM2 sustains macrophage-hepatocyte metabolic coordination in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and sepsis}},
journal = {The Journal of clinical investigation},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.1172/jci135197},
pmid = {33586673},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1172/jci135197}
}
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Key findings
- Here we identified nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as an independent risk factor for sepsis in a large clinical cohort and showed a link between mortality in NAFLD-associated sepsis and hepatic mitochondrial and energetic metabolism dysfunction.
- Using in vivo and in vitro models of liver lipid overload, we discovered a metabolic coordination between hepatocyte mitochondria and liver macrophages that express triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 (TREM2).
- Trem2-deficient macrophages released exosomes that impaired hepatocytic mitochondrial structure and energy supply because of their high content of miR-106b-5p, which blocks Mitofusin 2 (Mfn2).
- In a mouse model of NAFLD-associated sepsis, TREM2 deficiency accelerated the initial progression of NAFLD and subsequent susceptibility to sepsis.
Why it matters
This study is about nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and sepsis, identifying NAFLD as a risk factor for sepsis and a metabolic coordination between hepatocytes and TREM2-expressing liver macrophages. It does not concern Alzheimer's disease and reports no treatment for it.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 56/100
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 clinical investigation) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Journal of Clinical Investigation: journal h-index 706 (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 | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2021 — 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 237 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 33.9 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 24.1× 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 | 3 / 4 | Cited 124 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Xiangming Fang: h-index 49 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Washington University in St. Louis: institution h-index 1,962 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 10 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33586673) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 56 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1172/jci135197
- PubMed: 33586673
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Clinical Investigation →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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