Progranulin (
PGRN
) is a growth factor implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases, such as frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Despite its important role in the central nervous system (
CNS
), the mechanisms controlling
PGRN
expression in the
CNS
are largely unknown. Recent evidence, however, suggested that several stressors, such as hypoxia, acidosis, or oxidative stress, induce
PGRN
expression. The present study was mainly aimed at determining whether and, if so, how glucose deprivation affects
PGRN
expression in
PC
12 cells. Initially, it was found that glucose deprivation gradually induced
PGRN
gene expression in
PC
12 cells. To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, several intracellular signalings that were modified in response to glucose deprivation were examined. Both adenosine monophosphate kinase (
AMPK
) activation and changes in osmotic pressure, which are modified by extracellular glucose concentration, had no effect on
PGRN
gene expression; on the other hand, p38 activation in response to glucose deprivation played an important role in inducing
PGRN
gene expression. It was also found that expression of sortilin, a
PGRN
receptor implicated in
PGRN
endocytosis, was dramatically reduced by glucose deprivation. In contrast to glucose‐dependent regulation of
PGRN
gene expression,
AMPK
activation played a central role in reducing sortilin expression. Overall, the present study suggests that the
PGRN
–sortilin axis is modulated by glucose deprivation via two distinct mechanisms. As
PGRN
is neuroprotective, this system may represent a new neuroprotective mechanism activated by glucose deprivation in the
CNS
.