Progranulin is an 88kDa protein and is established as a marker for frontotemporal dementia (FTD); decreased serum progranulin concentrations occur in approximately 5-10% of patients with FTD. In contrast, an increase in serum progranulin levels has been demonstrated in type 2 diabetics. Progranulin seems to reflect the distribution of adipose tissue and could be a biomarker for the amount of visceral adipose tissue.
The Mediagnost Progranulin ELISA is an assay with good reproducibility that detects progranulin and not granulins with high specificity.