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Controlled Cortical Impact Model for Traumatic Brain Injury
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Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cell 2-Mediated Microglial Phagocytosis in the Subacute Phase of Traumatic

Jing Xia1,2,3, Chen-Yu Sun1,2,3, Ting Su1,2,3

  • 1NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Narcotic and Psychotropic Drugs, Xuzhou, China.

Journal of Neurotrauma
|February 17, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes memory loss. Upregulated TREM2 in microglia worsens TBI memory dysfunction by increasing synapse loss during the subacute phase.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to significant neuropsychiatric issues.
  • Microglia, the brain's immune cells, play a crucial role in TBI.
  • TREM2 (Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid cells 2) is vital for microglial functions like synaptic pruning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the specific role of microglial TREM2 in memory deficits following TBI during the subacute phase.
  • To understand how TREM2 influences microglial activity and synaptic integrity post-TBI.

Main Methods:

  • Behavioral tests (Morris water maze) assessed memory in TBI rats.
  • Immunofluorescence (Iba1) and qPCR quantified microglial activation and TREM2 expression.
  • TREM2 was inhibited using small interfering RNA (siRNA) in wild-type mice and studied in Trem2 knockout mice.

Main Results:

  • TBI rats exhibited significant memory impairment.
  • Microglial activation and TREM2 expression peaked in the subacute phase, particularly in the CA1 region.
  • Inhibition of microglial activity and TREM2 knockdown in CA1 reduced synaptic loss, enhanced synaptic plasticity, and improved memory function.

Conclusions:

  • Microglial TREM2 upregulation exacerbates TBI-induced memory dysfunction.
  • Excessive microglial phagocytosis of synapses, mediated by TREM2, contributes to memory deficits in the subacute phase of TBI.
  • Targeting microglial TREM2 may offer therapeutic potential for TBI-related memory impairments.
Keywords:
TREM2memorymicrogliasynapse engulfmenttraumatic brain injury

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