Decoding TREM2 Signaling Pathways

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) is a key immunomodulatory receptor broadly expressed on myeloid cells such as macrophages and microglia. It plays versatile roles in neurodegenerative diseases, tissue repair, and tumor immunity by orchestrating glucose metabolism and inflammatory responses. This review systematically summarizes the structural characteristics of TREM2, its ligand-binding mechanisms, and downstream signaling pathways-including the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/Akt), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) cascades-with a…