Progranulin protects against exaggerated axonal injury and astrogliosis following traumatic brain injury

In response to traumatic brain injury (TBI) microglia/macrophages and astrocytes release inflammatory mediators with dual effects on secondary brain damage progression. The neurotrophic and anti-inflammatory glycoprotein progranulin (PGRN) attenuates neuronal damage and microglia/macrophage activation in brain injury but mechanisms are still elusive. Here, we studied histopathology, neurology and gene expression of inflammatory markers in PGRN-deficient mice (Grn-/- ) 24 h and 5 days after experimental TBI. Grn-/- mice displayed increased perilesional axonal injury even though the overall brain tissue loss and neurological consequences were similar to wild-type mice. Brain inflammation was …