Reduced plasma progranulin levels are associated with the severity of Parkinson’s disease

• Published in: Neuroscience letters Vol. 725; p. 134873
• Main Authors: Yao, Yi-Na, Wang, Ming-Da, Tang, Xi-Cun, Wu, Bo, Sun, Hong-Ming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 23.04.2020
• Subjects: Aged; Biomarker; Biomarkers - blood; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Status and Dementia Tests; Middle Aged; Parkinson Disease - blood; Parkinson Disease - diagnosis; Parkinson Disease - psychology; Parkinson’s disesase; Plasma; Progranulin; Progranulins - blood; Severity of Illness Index; Parkinson’s disesase; Plasma; Biomarker; Progranulin
• ISSN: 0304-3940; 1872-7972; 1872-7972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.134873

•Plasma progranulin levels are reduced in Parkinson’s disease.•Plasma progranulin levels are correlated with the disease severity.•Plamsa progranulin levels are correlated with the disease progression.•Plasma progranulin may serve as a biomarker of Parkinson’s disease. Blood levels of progranulin (PGRN) are suggested to be decreased in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the association between blood levels of progranulin and the severity of PD is not yet clear. A total of 55 PD patients and 55 normal control (NC) subjects were recruited in the present study. Hoehn and Yahr stages (H&Y) and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale scores (UPDRS) were examined to assess the severity of the disease. UPDRS motor section (UPDRS-III) was used to assess the motor function of the patients. Plasma levels of PGRN were tested by Elisa assays. Plasma PGRN levels are significantly decreased in PD patients (PD vs. NC: 333.8 ± 8.067 vs. 364.2 ± 10.11 ng/ml, p = 0.020). In the subgroup analysis, plasma PGRN levels decrease as H&Y score increases (H&Y = 1 vs. H&Y = 2: 363.5 ± 3.251 vs. 336.3 ± 7.403 ng/ml, p = 0.013; H&Y = 1 vs. H&Y = 3–5: 363.5 ± 3.251 vs. 218.1 ± 18.12 ng/ml, p < 0.001; H&Y = 2 vs. H&Y = 3–5: 336.3 ± 7.403 vs. 218.1 ± 18.12 ng/ml, p = 0.076). Plasma levels of progranulin are negatively correlated with the severity of PD, as reflected by UPDRS (γ=-0.754, p < 0.001), UPDRS-III (γ=-0.808, p < 0.001) and disease duration (γ=-0.633, p < 0.001). Circulating PGRN levels might be a potential indicator of the disease severity of PD.