Cited by 138Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ResearchAlzheimer's disease research and treatmentsNeuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms

Progranulin: a new avenue towards the understanding and treatment of neurodegenerative disease

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Chitramuthu, Babykumari P, Bennett, Hugh P J, Bateman, Andrew·2017·Brain

Abstract

Progranulin, a secreted glycoprotein, is encoded in humans by the single GRN gene. Progranulin consists of seven and a half, tandemly repeated, non-identical copies of the 12 cysteine granulin motif. Many cellular processes and diseases are associated with this unique pleiotropic factor that include, but are not limited to, embryogenesis, tumorigenesis, inflammation, wound repair, neurodegeneration and lysosome function. Haploinsufficiency caused by autosomal dominant mutations within the GRN gene leads to frontotemporal lobar degeneration, a progressive neuronal atrophy that presents in patients as frontotemporal dementia. Frontotemporal dementia is an early onset form of dementia, distinct from Alzheimer's disease. The GRN-related form of frontotemporal lobar dementia is a proteinopathy characterized by the appearance of neuronal inclusions containing ubiquitinated and fragmented TDP-43 (encoded by TARDBP). The neurotrophic and neuro-immunomodulatory properties of progranulin have recently been reported but are still not well understood. Gene delivery of GRN in experimental models of Alzheimer's- and Parkinson's-like diseases inhibits phenotype progression. Here we review what is currently known concerning the molecular function and mechanism of action of progranulin in normal physiological and pathophysiological conditions in both in vitro and in vivo models. The potential therapeutic applications of progranulin in treating neurodegenerative diseases are highlighted.

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  • Haploinsufficiency from autosomal dominant progranulin mutations causes FTLD.

    “Haploinsufficiency caused by autosomal dominant mutations in the progranulin gene leads to FTLD141.”

    From Microglia in neurodegeneration (2018) · cites this paper as [141]

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Forman MS, Mackenzie IR, Cairns NJ, Swanson E, Boyer PJ, Drachman DA, et al. Novel ubiquitin neuropathology in frontotem- poral dementia with valosin-containing protein gene mutations. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2006; 65: 571-81.
  2. Guerreiro RJ, Washecka N, Hardy J, Singleton A. A thorough assess- ment of benign genetic variability in GRN and MAPT. Hum Mutat 2010; 31: E1126-40.

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Authors
Chitramuthu, B. P., Bennett, H. P. J., & Bateman, A.
Affiliations
McGill University Health Centre (CA)
Corresponding author
Bennett, Hugh P J
Venue
Brain
Published
2017-08-18
Volume
140
Issue
12
Pages
3081-3104
ISSN
  • 0006-8950 (ISSN-L)
  • 1460-2156
OpenAlex
W2746890128
Cited by
138
References
300
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 10
FWCI
1.97
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Brain (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • McGill University
  • Weston Brain Institute
  • McGill University Health Centre
  • Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
Keywords
progranulin, GRN gene, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, frontotemporal dementia, neurodegenerative diseases, TDP-43, haploinsufficiency, lysosomal function, neurotrophic factors, gene therapy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, proteinopathies
MeSH terms
Progranulins, Granulins, Animals, Humans, Models, Neurological, Mutation, Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins, Mice, Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration, TDP-43 Proteinopathies, Frontotemporal Dementia, Haploinsufficiency, Molecular Targeted Therapy, In Vitro Techniques

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