Neuroprotective Effect of TREM-2 in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease Model.
Neuroinflammation and activation of innate immunity are early events in neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, a rare mutation in the gene Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) has been associated with a substantial increase in the risk of developing late onset AD. To uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying this association, we investigated the RNA and protein expression of TREM2 in APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Our findings suggest that TREM2 not only plays a critical role in inflammation, but is also involved in neuronal cell survival and in neurogenesis. We have shown that TREM2 is a soluble protein transported by macrophages through ventricle walls and choroid plexus, and then enters the brain parenchyma via radial glial cells. TREM2 protein is essential for neuroplasticity and myelination. During the late stages of life, a lack of TREM2 protein may accelerate aging processes and neuronal cell loss and reduce microglial activity, ultimately leading to neuroinflammation. As inflammation plays a major role in neurodegenerative diseases, a lack of TREM2 could be a missing link between immunomodulation and neuroprotection.
John Van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Animesh Alexander
AA
Raha
John Van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
James W
JW
Henderson
John Van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Simon R W
SR
Stott
John Van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Romina
R
Vuono
John Van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Simona
S
Foscarin
University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, USA.
Robert P
RP
Friedland
Cambridge Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Research Group, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Shahid H
SH
Zaman
John Van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Ruma
R
Raha-Chowdhury
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008578:Meninges / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000066829:Neuroprotection / Q000502:physiology*; D053764:Presenilin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism*
C545487:APP protein, human; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C508853:PSEN1 protein, human; D053764:Presenilin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic
Alzheimer’ disease; choroid plexus macrophages; immunomodulation; innate immunity; myelination; neurogenesis; neuroinflammation; neuroplasticity; neuroprotective; soluble TREM2