A novel interaction between perlecan protein core and progranulin: potential effects on tumor growth

In an in vivo search of novel partners for perlecan, a major heparan sulfate proteoglycan of basement membranes and cell surfaces, we identified progranulin, a secreted growth factor, as a strong interacting protein. Unambiguous interaction, first observed with the yeast two-hybrid system, was corroborated by co-immunoprecipitation studies using cell-free transcription/translation and transient cell transfection assays. The interaction of progranulin with perlecan domain V involved the first two laminin- and epidermal growth factor-like repeats. Within progranulin, the subdomains interacting most with perlecan harbored granulins F and B. Kinetics analysis of the interaction using surface plasmon resonance showed a saturable binding of relative low affinity (KD approximately 1 microM). These results were supported by significant expression overlap of these two proteins in a series of ovarian tumor tissue microarrays. Progranulin was present within proliferating blood vessels of ovarian carcinomas and perivascular matrices, with a distribution similar to perlecan. Notably, both progranulin and domain V stimulated the growth of adrenal carcinoma cells. However, when used together in equimolar amounts, the two proteins counteracted each other's activity. Thus, progranulin/perlecan interaction could contribute to a fine regulation of tumor angiogenesis and could ultimately affect cancer growth.