The role of progranulin in ischemic heart disease and its related risk factors.

Cardiovascular disease, in particular, ischemic heart disease, is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Obesity and its related disorders are linked to cardiovascular events. Adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ that secretes bioactive molecules termed adipokines, which play an important role in heart function. Progranulin, one of the adipokines, plays a crucial role in health and disease. In relation to heart disease, progranulin has shown anti-inflammatory activity in the vascular endothelium and its deletion has exacerbated the atherosclerotic process. Progranulin binds to apo-lipoprotein A-1 and forms a complex attenuating pro-inflammatory activity of progranulin and stabilizing atherosclerotic plaques. The adipokine may have an athero-protective role by increasing nitric oxide level in the vascular endothelium by enhancing endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation, enhancing reverse cholesterol transport, and exerting an antithrombotic effect. Furthermore, PGRN exhibits protective properties in an acute ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, Progranulin has a pro-inflammatory action linked with cardiovascular risk factors, such as metabolic syndrome and type two diabetes. The review at hand sheds light on the interesting role that progranulin plays in ischemic heart disease and its related risk factors.