Correlation between serum soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 and cerebral small vessel disease

ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between serum soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2) and total imaging load and cognitive function in cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD).

MethodsA total of 86 patients with CSVD were selected as the observation group, and 70 outpatients with cerebrovascular disease risk factors and negative head MRI results were selected as the control group.Serum levels of sTREM2 and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by ELISA.The observation group was divided into mild group (0-1 point), moderate group (2 point) and severe group (3-4 point) according to the total CSVD imaging load score.The Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) was used to evaluate the cognitive function level of the observation group.The correlation between sTREM2 and IL-6 level, total imaging burden of CSVD and MMSE score was compared.

ResultsSerum levels of sTREM2 and IL-6 in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, and MMSE scores were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.01).The levels of sTREM2 and IL-6 in moderate group and severe group were higher than those in the mild group, and those in the severe group were higher than those in the moderate group (P < 0.01).The MMSE scores of the moderate group and severe group were lower than those of the mild group, and those of the severe group were lower than those of the moderate group (P < 0.01).In the observation group, sTREM2 level was positively correlated with IL-6 level, and negatively correlated with MMSE score (r=0.842, r=-0.526, P < 0.01).With CSVD as the dependent variable and sTREM2, IL-6, age, hypertension, diabetes, low density lipoprotein and MMSE as the independent variables, logistic regression analysis showed that sTREM2, age and hypertension were the risk factors for CSVD.

ConclusionsThe expression of sTREM2 in peripheral blood of CSVD patients is increased, and it is positively correlated with cognitive impairment.The higher the total imaging load of CSVD, the more significant the increase of sTREM2.STREM2, age and hypertension are risk factors for CSVD.