title: Progranulin: a promising therapeutic target for rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Progranulin (PGRN) is an autocrine growth factor with multiple functions. This review provides updates about the interplays of PGRN with extracellular matrix proteins, proteolytic enzymes, inflammatory cytokines, and cell surface receptors in cartilage and arthritis, with a special focus on the interaction between PGRN and TNF receptors (TNFR) and its implications in inflammatory arthritis. The paper also highlights Atsttrin, an engineered protein composed of three PGRN fragments that prevents inflammation in several inflammatory arthritis models. Identification of PGRN as a ligand of TNFR and an antagonist of TNFα signaling, together with the discovery of Atsttrin, not only betters our understanding of the pathogenesis of arthritis, but also provides new therapeutic interventions for various TNFα-mediated pathologies and conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York University School of Medicine and NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, NY 10003, USA. chuanju.liu@med.nyu.edu
authors.forename: Chuan-ju
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D059748:Proteolysis; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: C557987:Atsttrin fusion protein; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins