A narrative review of multiple mechanisms of progranulin in cancer: a potential target for anti-cancer therapy

Exploring gastric cancer genetics: A turning point in common variable immunodeficiency

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) stands as a prominent cause of cancer-related mortality and ranks second among the most frequently diagnosed malignancies in individuals with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID).

Objective

We sought to conduct a comprehensive, large-scale genetic analysis to explore the CVID-associated germline variant landscape within gastric adenocarcinoma samples and to seek to delineate the transcriptomic similarities between GC and CVID.

Methods

We investigated the presence of CVID-associated germline variants in 1591 GC samples and assessed their impact on tumor mutational load. The progression of GC was evaluated in patients with and without these variants. Transcriptomic similarities were explored by matching differentially expressed genes in GC to healthy gastric tissue with a CVID transcriptomic signature.

Results

CVID-associated germline variants were found in 60% of GC samples. Our analysis revealed a significant association between the presence of CVID-related genetic variants and higher tumor mutational load in GC (P < .0001); high GC mutational load seems to be linked to immunotherapy response and worse prognosis. Transcriptomic similarities unveiled key genes and pathways implicated in innate immune responses and tumorigenesis. We identified upregulated genes related to oncogene drivers, inflammation, tumor suppression, DNA repair, and downregulated immunomodulatory genes shared between GC and CVID.

Conclusions

Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of potential molecular modulators of GC and shed light on the intricate interplay between immunodeficiency and cancer. This study underscores the clinical relevance of CVID-related variants in influencing GC progression and opens avenues for further exploration into novel therapeutic approaches.

The Role of Progranulin (PGRN) in the Pathogenesis of Glioblastoma Multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) represents the most common and aggressive malignant form of brain tumour in adults and is characterized by an extremely poor prognosis with dismal survival rates. Currently, expanding concepts concerning the pathophysiology of GBM are inextricably linked with neuroinflammatory phenomena. On account of this fact, the identification of novel pathomechanisms targeting neuroinflammation seems to be crucial in terms of yielding successful individual therapeutic strategies. In recent years, the pleiotropic growth factor progranulin (PGRN) has attracted significant attention in the neuroscience and oncological community regarding its neuroimmunomodulatory and oncogenic functions. This review of the literature summarizes and updates contemporary knowledge about PGRN, its associated receptors and signalling pathway involvement in GBM pathogenesis, indicating possible cellular and molecular mechanisms with potential diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic targets in order to yield successful individual therapeutic strategies. After a review of the literature, we found that there are possible PGRN-targeted therapeutic approaches for implementation in GBM treatment algorithms both in preclinical and future clinical studies. Furthermore, PGRN-targeted therapies exerted their highest efficacy in combination with other established chemotherapeutic agents, such as temozolomide. The results of the analysis suggested that the possible implementation of routine determinations of PGRN and its associated receptors in tumour tissue and biofluids could serve as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of GBM. Furthermore, promising preclinical applications of PGRN-related findings should be investigated in clinical studies in order to create new diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms for GBM treatment.

Current State of Knowledge on Blood and Tissue-Based Biomarkers for Opisthorchis viverrini-induced Cholangiocarcinoma: A Review of Prognostic, Predictive, and Diagnostic Markers

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a prevalent cancer in Southeast Asia, with Opisthorchis viverrini (O.viverrini) infection being the primary risk factor. Most CCA cases in this region are diagnosed at advanced stages, leading to unfavorable prognoses. The development of stage-specific biomarkers for Opisthorchis viverrini-induced cholangiocarcinoma (Ov-CCA) holds crucial significance, as it facilitates early detection and timely administration of curative interventions, effectively mitigating the high morbidity and mortality rates associated with this disease in the Great Mekong region. Biomarkers are a promising approach for early detection, prognosis, and targeted treatment of CCA. Disease-specific biomarkers facilitate early detection and enable monitoring of therapy effectiveness, allowing for any necessary corrections. This review provides an overview of the potential O. viverrini-specific molecular biomarkers and important markers for diagnosing and monitoring Ov-CCA, discussing their prognostic, predictive, and diagnostic value. Despite the limited research in this domain, several potential biomarkers have been identified, encompassing both worm-induced and host-induced factors. This review offers a thorough examination of historical and contemporary progress in identifying biomarkers through multiomics techniques, along with their potential implications for early detection and treatment.

SorCS2 binds progranulin to regulate motor neuron development

Motor neuron (MN) development and nerve regeneration requires orchestrated action of a vast number of molecules. Here, we identify SorCS2 as a progranulin (PGRN) receptor that is required for MN diversification and axon outgrowth in zebrafish and mice. In zebrafish, SorCS2 knockdown also affects neuromuscular junction morphology and fish motility. In mice, SorCS2 and PGRN are co-expressed by newborn MNs from embryonic day 9.5 until adulthood. Using cell-fate tracing and nerve segmentation, we find that SorCS2 deficiency perturbs cell-fate decisions of brachial MNs accompanied by innervation deficits of posterior nerves. Additionally, adult SorCS2 knockout mice display slower motor nerve regeneration. Interestingly, primitive macrophages express high levels of PGRN, and their interaction with SorCS2-positive motor axon is required during axon pathfinding. We further show that SorCS2 binds PGRN to control its secretion, signaling, and conversion into granulins. We propose that PGRN-SorCS2 signaling controls MN development and regeneration in vertebrates.

Dietary artemisinin boosts intestinal immunity and healthy in fat greenling (Hexagrammos otakii)

Introduction

Artemisinin (ART) is very common as a diet additive due to its immunoregulatory activities. Nonetheless, the immunoregulatory mechanism of ART in marine fish remains unknown. This study comprehensively examined the effects and explored the potential mechanism of ART ameliorating intestinal immune disease (IID) in fat greenlings (Hexagrammos otakii).

Methods and results

The targets of ART were screened using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database. Here, eight putative targets of ART were collected and identified with the Uniprot database, and 1419 IID-associated target proteins were filtered through the Drugbank, Genecards, OMIM, and PHARMGKB Databases. The results of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways point out that ART may have immunoprotective effects by regulating cellular responses to stress, hypoxia, inflammation, and vascular endothelial growth factor stimulus through the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) signaling pathway. The findings of molecular docking indicated that ART contains one active ingredient and three cross-targets, which showed a kind combination with hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF1-a), transcription factor p65 (RELA), and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), respectively. Furthermore, an ART feeding model was established to assess the ART's immunoprotect effect on the intestine of H.otakii in vivo. The D48 group showed smaller intestinal structural changes after being challenged by Edwardsiella tarda. The supplementation of ART to the diet improved total superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) in intestine of H. otakii. The expression of transcription factor p65, HIF1-α, VEGF-A, cyclin D1, matrix metalloprotease 9 (MMP9), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) was decreased after dietary ART in the intestinal of H. otakii.

Discussion

The present results demonstrated that dietary ART improved antioxidants and immunity, optimized the intestinal structure, and increased resistance to E. tarda through the SOD2/nuclear-factor-kappa- B (NFkB)/HIF1-a/VEGF-A pathway in the intestinal tract of H.otakii. This study integrated pharmacological analysis and experimental validation and revealed the mechanism of ART on IID, which provides insight into the improvement of IID in H. otakii.

Progranulin modulates the progression of non-small cell lung cancer through lncRNA H19

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the specific mechanism of action of Progranulin (PGRN) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its interaction with lncRNA H19.

METHODS

Normal and cancerous lung tissues were collected from patients with NSCLC and healthy volunteers. We assessed the expression of PGRN in both groups using immunohistochemistry, quantitative-reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and western blotting (WB).

RESULTS

Compared to the controls, PGRN expression was noticeably higher in tumor tissues. The high expression of PGRN in patients with NSCLC was inversely correlated to the prognosis and strongly associated with the biological features and clinicopathologic data. High PGRN expression significantly improved the ability of NSCLC cells to proliferate and migrate and was positively correlated with tumor formation, based on in vitro and in vivo cellular tests. Expression of lncRNA H19 was also found to be elevated in NSCLC tissue and cells. The expression of H19 was correlated with tumor growth in vivo and in vitro, and H19 regulated PGRN by mediating the expression of miR-29b-3p.

CONCLUSIONS

H19 and PGRN can serve as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in NSCLC.

Progranulin promotes proliferation, migration and invasion via the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway in a model of endometriosis

RESEARCH QUESTION

What are the levels of progranulin (PGRN) expression in primary endometrial stromal cells (ESC) and endometrial tissue in patients with endometriosis (EMS)? What is the role and mechanism of action of PGRN in EMS?

DESIGN

Endometrial tissue was collected from 30 patients, 15 with EMS (EMS group) and 15 without EMS (non-EMS group). PGRN expression in endometrial tissue and ESC was analysed by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. PGRN overexpression and silencing ESC were established with lentivirus to detect the effect on proliferation, invasion and migration. The relationship between PGRN and the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signalling pathway was verified by western blotting. A rescue assay was performed with PI3K inhibitor treatment.

RESULTS

The PGRN expression was significantly higher in EMS samples. PGRN up-regulation promoted proliferation (P = 0.007), migration (P = 0.002) and invasion (P < 0.001) of eutopic endometrial stromal cells (EUESC). The ratio of p-AKT/AKT was higher in the overexpression PGRN (ovPGRN) group than in the overexpression-NC (ovNC) group (P = 0.004). Silencing PGRN produced the opposite results, and LY2940002 addition reversed the effect of PGRN up-regulation on the proliferation, invasion and migration of EUESC.

CONCLUSIONS

PGRN might promote the proliferation, invasion and migration of EUESC via the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway. These preliminary in-vitro findings may present a new perspective and inspire further study of the mechanism of EMS.

Preclinical Interventions in Mouse Models of Frontotemporal Dementia Due to Progranulin Mutations

Heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in progranulin (GRN) cause frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a leading cause of early-onset dementia characterized clinically by behavioral, social, and language deficits. There are currently no FDA-approved therapeutics for FTD-GRN, but this has been an active area of investigation, and several approaches are now in clinical trials. Here, we review preclinical development of therapies for FTD-GRN with a focus on testing in mouse models. Since most FTD-GRN-associated mutations cause progranulin haploinsufficiency, these approaches focus on raising progranulin levels. We begin by considering the disorders associated with altered progranulin levels, and then review the basics of progranulin biology including its lysosomal, neurotrophic, and immunomodulatory functions. We discuss mouse models of progranulin insufficiency and how they have been used in preclinical studies on a variety of therapeutic approaches. These include approaches to raise progranulin expression from the normal allele or facilitate progranulin production by the mutant allele, as well as approaches to directly increase progranulin levels by delivery across the blood-brain barrier or by gene therapy. Several of these approaches have entered clinical trials, providing hope that new therapies for FTD-GRN may be the next frontier in the treatment of neurodegenerative disease.

Activation of PGRN/MAPK axis stimulated by the hypoxia-conditioned mesenchymal stem cell-derived HIF-1α facilitates osteosarcoma progression

BACKGROUND

Progranulin (PGRN) is an important survival factor in the progression of multiple cancers.

PURPOSE

To explore the effects and mechanisms of PGRN on malignant biological behavior of osteosarcoma (OS) cells and the effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and the hypoxic microenvironment on PGRN alteration.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The expression pattern of PGRN in OS were evaluated in OS tissues and cell lines. Next, a loss-of-function assay investigated the function of PGRN on the proliferation, migration and cell death of OS cells. The activation of MAPK signaling in the process was examined by western blot and functional experiments accompanied by skatole. Additionally, we internally silenced hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in MSCs along with exogenously added HIF-1α (exo-HIF-1α) to explore how MSCs affect PGRN alteration and the malignant behavior of OS cells.

RESULTS

An aberrantly high expression of PGRN was observed in OS and associated with the poor prognosis of OS patients. PGRN knockdown repressed the proliferation, migration and induced cell death of OS cells, and activating MAPK pathway reversed these effects. Further evidence showed that MSCs regulated PGRN to mediate the malignant biological behavior of OS cells. Hypoxia enhanced HIF-1α expression in MSCs. HIF-1α silencing in MSCs under hypoxia suppressed the oncogenic effects of MSCs and reduced PGRN expression in OS cells, while the treatment of exo-HIF-1α reversed the depressive effects of HIF1α silencing on OS progression.

CONCLUSION

Overall, we concluded that PGRN, which was activated by the increase of hypoxic-MSCs-derived HIF-1α, promoted OS progression through the activation of MAPK signaling.

Can serum progranulin level be used as a prognostic biomarker in non-small cell lung cancer?

Progranulin has been considered to be a poor prognostic biomarker for some types of malignancies. However, the clinical significance of serum progranulin level and the prognostic value are still not explored in advanced stages of lung cancer.  The current study investigates the prognostic significance of progranulin serum levels in advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. This study involved 94 subjects (70 advanced-stage NSCLC patients and 24 healthy controls). Serum progranulin level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and was correlated with patient outcome. The association between circulating progranulin level and clinicopathological parameters was detected. Serum progranulin cut-off level predicting six-month survival was determined. Serum progranulin level was found significantly elevated in NSCLC patients than in the control group (p<0.001). We did not determine a significant difference between stage IIIB and stage IV NSCLC patients for serum progranulin levels (p=0.166). When we evaluated the laboratory parameters, only serum LDH level was found significantly correlated with serum progranulin level (p=0.043), also bone and liver metastasis showed a significant correlation with progranulin level (p=0.008 and p = 0.024, respectively). The cut-off level of serum progranulin in predicting six months of survival was determined as 16.03 ng/ml (AUC = 0.973, 95%Cl: 0.903-0.997, p<0.001) with 97.06% sensitivity and 88.89% specificity. Overall survival was determined shorter in patients with progranulin level ≥16 ng/ml than those with <16 ng/ml (p<0.001). Also, in the multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model serum progranulin level was found as an independent prognostic factor for NSCLC (p=0.001). Serum progranulin level may be a useful biomarker for predicting poor survival in advanced-stage NSCLC patients.

Helicobacter pylori-Induced Progranulin Promotes the Progression of the Gastric Epithelial Cell Cycle by Regulating CDK4

Helicobacter pylori, a group 1 carcinogen, colonizes the stomach and affects the development of stomach diseases. Progranulin (PGRN) is an autocrine growth factor that regulates multiple cellular processes and plays a tumorigenic role in many tissues. Nevertheless, the mechanism of action of PGRN in gastric cancer caused by H. pylori infection remains unclear. Here, we investigated the role of PGRN in cell cycle progression and the cell proliferation induced by H. pylori infection. We found that the increased PGRN was positively associated with CDK4 expression in gastric cancer tissue. PGRN was upregulated by H. pylori infection, thereby promoting cell proliferation, and that enhanced level of proliferation was reduced by PGRN inhibitor. CDK4, a target gene of PGRN, is a cyclin-dependent kinase that binds to cyclin D to promote cell cycle progression, which was upregulated by H. pylori infection. We also showed that knockdown of CDK4 reduced the higher cell cycle progression caused by upregulated PGRN. Moreover, when the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway (which is promoted by PGRN) was blocked, the upregulation of CDK4 mediated by PGRN was reduced. These results reveal the potential mechanism by which PGRN plays a major role through CDK4 in the pathological mechanism of H. pylori infection.