Home › Research › TREM2 and immune genetics
TREMs in the immune system and beyond
Colonna M.. Nature reviews. Immunology, 2003-06-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Triggering receptors expressed by myeloid cells (TREMs) belong to a rapidly expanding family of receptors that include activating and inhibitory isoforms encoded by a gene cluster linked to the MHC. TREM1 and TREM2 activate myeloid cells by signalling through the adaptor protein DAP12. TREM1 triggers phagocyte secretion of pro-inflammatory chemokines and cytokines, amplifying the inflammation that is induced by bacteria and fungi.
Key findings
- TREM1 and TREM2 activate myeloid cells by signalling through the adaptor protein DAP12.
- TREM1 triggers phagocyte secretion of pro-inflammatory chemokines and cytokines, amplifying the inflammation that is induced by bacteria and fungi.
- TREM2 activates monocyte-derived dendritic cells and regulates osteoclast development.
- Remarkably, TREM2 deficiency leads to a severe disease that is characterized by bone cysts and demyelination of the central nervous system, which results in dementia, implying that the function of TREM2 extends beyond the immune system.
Why it matters
This review describes TREM1 and TREM2 activating myeloid cells through DAP12, and notes that TREM2 deficiency causes bone cysts and central nervous system demyelination leading to dementia. It is a general review and does not report a treatment, cure or prevention.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Genetics →
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 50/100
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 reviews. Immunology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Nature reviews. Immunology: journal h-index 570 (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 | 2003 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| 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 704 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 28.2 citations a year over 25 year(s) since 2003 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 4 / 6 | Cited by 81 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 94 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 | 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 12776204) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 50 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
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. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Colonna, M. (2003). TREMs in the immune system and beyond. Nature reviews. Immunology. https://doi.org/10.1038/nri1106
Vancouver
Colonna M. TREMs in the immune system and beyond. Nature reviews. Immunology. 2003. doi:10.1038/nri1106. PMID: 12776204.
BibTeX
@article{colonna2003-12776204,
author = {Colonna, M.},
title = {{TREMs in the immune system and beyond}},
journal = {Nature reviews. Immunology},
year = {2003},
doi = {10.1038/nri1106},
pmid = {12776204},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/nri1106}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
Later studies that cite this one
81 studies in the alzhub library list this one in their references. Showing the 8 highest-scoring.
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.