Why do TAM receptors protect against neuroinvasive viruses despite their known immunosuppressive role?
PARTIALLY ADDRESSED
The finding that Mertk/Axl deficiency increases viral susceptibility contradicts the established paradigm that TAM receptors dampen antiviral immunity. This unexpected protective role challenges current understanding of TAM receptor function in neuroinvasive infections.
Gap type: contradiction
Source paper: The TAM receptor Mertk protects against neuroinvasive viral infection by maintaining blood-brain barrier integrity. (2015, Nature medicine, PMID:26523970)
Landscape Summary:
Why do TAM receptors protect against neuroinvasive viruses despite their known immunosuppressive role? is a 0.89 priority gap in neuroinflammation.
It has 0 linked hypotheses with average composite score 0.000.
Status: partially_addressed.
Key Unanswered Questions
What is the optimal TREM2 modulation strategy across disease stages?
How does DAM activation state affect therapeutic outcomes?
What biomarkers predict response to TREM2-targeted interventions?
Key Researchers
Colonna, Sevlever, et al. (TREM2 biology)
Clinical Trials
Why do TAM receptors protect against neuroinvasive viruses despite their known immunosuppressive role? — INVOKE-2 (completed)