Research Article Details

Article ID: A21560
PMID: 25231693
Source: Endocr J
Title: Circulating progranulin level is associated with visceral fat and elevated liver enzymes: significance of serum progranulin as a useful marker for liver dysfunction.
Abstract: Progranulin (PRGN) was recently identified as one of the adipokines involved in the development of insulin resistance. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the importance of PRGN as a novel marker for metabolic diseases in Japanese. A total of 138 subjects were recruited by the Aijinkai Total Health Care Center. Physical examination, blood sample examination and total body CT scan were performed for all participants. Serum PRGN levels were examined in subjects with or without metabolic syndrome and with or without liver enzyme elevation. Association study of serum PRGN levels and regression analysis of the relationship of elevated liver enzymes to representative metabolic parameters were performed. The metabolic syndrome group exhibited older age, and higher BMI, blood pressure, fasting glucose, HbA1c, IRI, HOMA-R, TG, FFA, CRP, AST, ALT, LDH, and ALP, and larger visceral fat area, subcutaneous fat area and visceral fat area/subcutaneous fat area. Serum PRGN concentrations were significantly higher in the metabolic syndrome group than in the non-metabolic syndrome group. Bivariate correlation analysis revealed that serum PRGN concentrations correlated positively and significantly with AST, ALT, LDH, γGTP, ALP, waist circumference and visceral fat area. The group with elevated liver enzymes exhibited higher BMI, blood pressure, IRI, HOMA-R, and PRGN level and larger waist circumference and visceral fat area than the group without them. In logistic regression analysis, visceral fat area and PRGN were significantly predictive of elevated liver enzymes. These results suggest that serum PRGN level as well as visceral fat are associated closely with liver dysfunction.
DOI: 10.1507/endocrj.EJ14-0210

Strategy ID Therapy Strategy Synonyms Therapy Targets Therapy Drugs
S01 Improve insulin resistance insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide Details

Target ID Target Name GENE Action Class UniProtKB ID Entry Name
T20 Fatty acid synthase FASN inhibitor Enzyme P49327 FAS_HUMAN Details

Diseases ID DO ID Disease Name Definition Class
I05 9352 Type 2 diabetes mellitus A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus Details
I14 9970 Obesity An overnutrition that is characterized by excess body fat, traditionally defined as an elevated ratio of weight to height (specifically 30 kilograms per meter squared), has_material_basis_in a multifactorial etiology related to excess nutrition intake, decreased caloric utilization, and genetic susceptibility, and possibly medications and certain disorders of metabolism, endocrine function, and mental illness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity disease of metabolism/acquired metabolic disease/ nutrition disease/overnutrition Details

Drug ID Drug Name Type DrugBank ID Targets Category Latest Progress
D328 Serine Chemical drug DB00133 SRR Improve insulin resistance Under clinical trials Details
D316 S-adenosyl-L-methionine Chemical drug DB00118 GNMT cofactor Antiviral Under clinical trials Details
D182 Insulin Biological drug DB00030 INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of -- Under clinical trials Details