Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 26, 2026

Establishment of a Surgically-induced Model in Mice to Investigate the Protective Role of Progranulin in Osteoarthritis
Published on: February 25, 2014
Biological functions of progranulin and research progress in neurodegenerative diseases
Jialiang Zhao1, Zixuan Zhao2, Tong Jiang1
1Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Anhui University of Science and Technology Huainan 232007, Anhui, China.
Abstract:
Progranulin (PGRN), a multifunctional glycoprotein, is widely expressed in the central nervous system, particularly in microglia. Dysregulation of PGRN is strongly linked to the pathogenesis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD), highlighting its essential role in brain homeostasis. While there are several mechanisms through which PGRN regulates lysosomal function, lipid metabolism, neuroinflammation, and microglial activation have been elucidated, its precise pathological network in neurodegenerative diseases remains incompletely understood. This review summarizes the biological functions of PGRN and recent research progress in neurodegenerative diseases, and discusses its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target. In addition, we propose an integrative "cascade-amplifying pathological network" hypothesis - a self-reinforcing positive feedback loop involving lysosomal dysfunction, lipid accumulation, and microglial activation, with the strongest evidence in GRN-mutation FTD and emerging relevance to AD and PD. Moreover, we incorporate recent advances from 2024-2026, including updated clinical trial outcomes, novel insights into PGRN-mediated lipid metabolism regulation, and emerging evidence on cell-type-specific mechanisms of PGRN function.
Related Concept Videos
Amyloid Fibrils
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining, normally used to...
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue
Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Neural Regulation
Regulated Protein Degradation
Protein degradation plays two important roles in the cells. It helps to protect cells from misfolded or damaged proteins before they lead to a...

