Recent advances in triggering receptor expressed in myeloid 2 and its role in Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Mutations in the triggering receptor expressed in myeloid 2 (TREM2) gene have recently been found to be closely related to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. However, the detailed mechanism underlying TREM2’s participation in the pathogenesis of AD and other diseases has yet to be fully elucidated. In this review, we discuss current understanding on the structure and function of TREM2, the relevance between TREM2 and AD, and the possible causes of AD by TREM2 mutations. Key words: Alzheimer's disease; Triggering receptor expressed in myeloid 2; DAP12