Progranulin promotes activation of microglia/macrophage after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus

• PGRN mRNA and protein levels were increased in response to pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus.
• Enhanced PGRN expression was observed in activated microglia/macrophages.
• PGRN protein potentiated microglial/macrophage activation after status epilepticus.
• Application of PGRN protein did not affect the extent of acute cell death in the dentate hilus following status epilepticus.

Progranulin (PGRN) haploinsufficiency accounts for up to 10% of frontotemporal lobe dementia. PGRN has also been implicated in neuroinflammation in acute and chronic neurological disorders. Here we report that both protein and mRNA levels of cortical and hippocampal PGRN are significantly enhanced following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus. We also identify intense PGRN immunoreactivity that colocalizes with CD11b in seizure-induced animals, suggesting that PGRN elevation occurs primarily in activated microglia and macrophages. To test the role of PGRN in activation of microglia/macrophages, we apply recombinant PGRN protein directly into the hippocampal formation, and observe no change in the number of CD11b+ microglia/macrophages in the dentate gyrus. However, with pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus, PGRN application significantly increases the number of CD11b+ microglia/macrophages in the dentate gyrus, without affecting the extent of hilar cell death. In addition, the number of CD11b+ microglia/macrophages induced by status epilepticus is not significantly different between PGRN knockout mice and wildtype. Our findings suggest that status epilepticus induces PGRN expression, and that PGRN potentiates but is not required for seizure-induced microglia/macrophage activation.