Diagnostic and prognostic roles of serum progranulin, a novel marker of the carbohydrate metabolism and inflammation

Progranulin is a recently recognized multifunctional glycopeptide shown to be related to obesity and diabetes mellitus. Progranulin is an endogenous antagonist of tumor necrosis factor-alpha by competitively binding to its receptor, therefore, it exerts anti-inflammatory activity. Paradoxically, previous studies have shown that serum levels of progranulin were elevated in patients with diabetes and associated to its complications including micro- and macroangi-opathies, macroalbuminuria or reduced renal function. Moreover, hyperprogranulinemia may be involved in the pathogenesis of obesity-associated insulin resistance. The review summarizes the currently available data on progranulin as a novel marker of the carbohydrate metabolism and inflammation.