Author(s): Masashi Tanaka, Hajime Yamakage, Takayuki Inoue, Shinya Masuda, Ryuji Ohue-Kitano, Toru Kusakabe and Noriko Satoh-Asahara
The protein triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell 2 (TREM2) is a cell surface receptor exclusively expressed on microglia in the brain. Recent extensive studies reveal that the functions of TREM2 as well as the phenotypes of TREM2-expressing microglia are closely implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), one of the most common causes of dementia. Furthermore, several recent studies reported a possible novel pathological implication for TREM2 in cognitive impairment associated with diabetes, one of the several metabolic diseases that are reported risk factors of dementia. In this review, we summarize recent advances and future research directions on the pathophysiological significance of TREM2 in AD and other neurodegenerative diseases as well as in metabolic diseases with increased risk for dementia.
