PGRN as an emerging regulator of lipid metabolism in neurodegenerative diseases

Abstract Dysregulated lipid metabolism in microglia represents a hallmark of neuroinflammation and is often observed in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. The exact molecular mechanisms underlying the induction of altered lipid homeostasis and how it contributes to neurodegeneration remain to...

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Main Authors: Yiyue Shi, Wenyu Hou, Bei Li, Caihong Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Communications Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08272-9
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author Yiyue Shi
Wenyu Hou
Bei Li
Caihong Zhu
author_facet Yiyue Shi
Wenyu Hou
Bei Li
Caihong Zhu
author_sort Yiyue Shi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Dysregulated lipid metabolism in microglia represents a hallmark of neuroinflammation and is often observed in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. The exact molecular mechanisms underlying the induction of altered lipid homeostasis and how it contributes to neurodegeneration remain to be deciphered. Progranulin (PGRN) is a lysosomal glycoprotein encoded by GRN. Loss-of-function mutations or variants of GRN have been linked to various neurodegenerative diseases. PGRN has recently been identified as a regulator of lipid droplet formation in microglia. Additionally, PGRN has been reported to interact with various molecules to modulate lysosomal lipid metabolism, including glycerolipids and sphingolipids in neurons. Hence, PGRN deficiency-mediated lipid dysregulation may represent a significant contributing factor to the neuroinflammation and the pathogenesis of related neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding how PGRN regulates lipid metabolism is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies to restore lipid homeostasis in microglia and mitigate neuroinflammation, thus offering hope for effective treatments to combat these neurodegenerative disorders in the future.
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spelling doaj-art-b5d9f99c28524989ac4fcbff7ec1ebbe2025-08-20T03:26:47ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-06-018111210.1038/s42003-025-08272-9PGRN as an emerging regulator of lipid metabolism in neurodegenerative diseasesYiyue Shi0Wenyu Hou1Bei Li2Caihong Zhu3School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan UniversitySchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan UniversitySchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan UniversitySchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan UniversityAbstract Dysregulated lipid metabolism in microglia represents a hallmark of neuroinflammation and is often observed in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. The exact molecular mechanisms underlying the induction of altered lipid homeostasis and how it contributes to neurodegeneration remain to be deciphered. Progranulin (PGRN) is a lysosomal glycoprotein encoded by GRN. Loss-of-function mutations or variants of GRN have been linked to various neurodegenerative diseases. PGRN has recently been identified as a regulator of lipid droplet formation in microglia. Additionally, PGRN has been reported to interact with various molecules to modulate lysosomal lipid metabolism, including glycerolipids and sphingolipids in neurons. Hence, PGRN deficiency-mediated lipid dysregulation may represent a significant contributing factor to the neuroinflammation and the pathogenesis of related neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding how PGRN regulates lipid metabolism is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies to restore lipid homeostasis in microglia and mitigate neuroinflammation, thus offering hope for effective treatments to combat these neurodegenerative disorders in the future.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08272-9
spellingShingle Yiyue Shi
Wenyu Hou
Bei Li
Caihong Zhu
PGRN as an emerging regulator of lipid metabolism in neurodegenerative diseases
Communications Biology
title PGRN as an emerging regulator of lipid metabolism in neurodegenerative diseases
title_full PGRN as an emerging regulator of lipid metabolism in neurodegenerative diseases
title_fullStr PGRN as an emerging regulator of lipid metabolism in neurodegenerative diseases
title_full_unstemmed PGRN as an emerging regulator of lipid metabolism in neurodegenerative diseases
title_short PGRN as an emerging regulator of lipid metabolism in neurodegenerative diseases
title_sort pgrn as an emerging regulator of lipid metabolism in neurodegenerative diseases
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08272-9
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