Untangling the Role of TREM2 in Conjugation with Microglia in Neuronal Dysfunction: A Hypothesis on a Novel Pathway in the Pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder involving heterogenous pathophysiological characteristics, which has become a challenge to therapeutics. The major pathophysiology of AD comprises amyloid-β (Aβ), tau, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Recent studies indicate the significance of Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) and its mutant variants in AD. TREM2 are the transmembrane receptors of microglial cells that performs a broad range of physiological cell processes. Phagocytosis of Aβ is one of the physiological roles of TREM2, which plays a pivotal role in AD progression. R47H, a mutant variant of TREM2, increases the risk of AD by impairing TREM2–Aβ binding. Inconclusive evidence regarding the TREM2 signaling cascade mechanism of Aβ phagocytosis motivates the current review to propose a new hypothesis. The review systematically assesses the cross talk between TREM2 and other AD pathological domains and the influence of TREM2 on amyloid and tau seeding. Disease associated microglia (DAM), a novel state of microglia with unique transcriptional and functional signatures reported in neurodegenerative conditions, also depend on the TREM2 pathway for its differentiation. DAM is suggested to have a neuroprotective role. We hypothesize that TREM2, along with its signaling adaptors and endogenous proteins, play a key role in ameliorating Aβ clearance. We indicate that TREM2 has the potential to ameliorate the Aβ burden, though with differential clearance ability and may act as a potential therapeutic target.