TY - JOUR
T1 - Prolactin triggers pro-inflammatory immune responses in peripheral immune cells
AU - Brand, Jörg Matthias
AU - Frohn, Christoph
AU - Cziupka, Katharina
AU - Brockmann, Christian
AU - Kirchner, Holger
AU - Luhm, Jürgen
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2004/4
Y1 - 2004/4
N2 - The peptide hormone prolactin (PRL) is produced by specialized cells in the anterior pituitary gland and in a number of sites outside the pituitary. Its biological actions consist of various roles in reproduction, lactation, and of a number of homeostatic biological activities that also include immune functions. Elevated serum PRL concentrations often correlate with abnormalities in immune responses. To determine the influence of PRL on human immune cells, human whole blood cultures were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), supplemented with various concentrations of human recombinant PRL. We found that PRL, at concentrations achievable during pregnancy, anesthesia and medication, significantly amplified interleukin (IL)-12 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) synthesis in LPS-stimulated cultures, in a dose-dependent manner. Conversely, synthesis of the anti-inlammatory cytokine IL-10 only increased significantly at very high concentrations of supplemented PRL. PRL alone was not able to induce any measurable secretion of TNF-α, IL-10, or IL-12 in non-stimulated, whole blood cultures. However, we demonstrated that PRL, by itself or in combination with LPS, causes an increase in the binding activity of the transcription factors nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) and Interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1), which are known to promote TNF-α and IL-12 secretion. These data suggest that PRL promotes pro-inflammatory immune responses via NFKB and IRF-1, which may affect pathophysiological processes in physiological hyperprolactinemic states.
AB - The peptide hormone prolactin (PRL) is produced by specialized cells in the anterior pituitary gland and in a number of sites outside the pituitary. Its biological actions consist of various roles in reproduction, lactation, and of a number of homeostatic biological activities that also include immune functions. Elevated serum PRL concentrations often correlate with abnormalities in immune responses. To determine the influence of PRL on human immune cells, human whole blood cultures were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), supplemented with various concentrations of human recombinant PRL. We found that PRL, at concentrations achievable during pregnancy, anesthesia and medication, significantly amplified interleukin (IL)-12 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) synthesis in LPS-stimulated cultures, in a dose-dependent manner. Conversely, synthesis of the anti-inlammatory cytokine IL-10 only increased significantly at very high concentrations of supplemented PRL. PRL alone was not able to induce any measurable secretion of TNF-α, IL-10, or IL-12 in non-stimulated, whole blood cultures. However, we demonstrated that PRL, by itself or in combination with LPS, causes an increase in the binding activity of the transcription factors nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) and Interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1), which are known to promote TNF-α and IL-12 secretion. These data suggest that PRL promotes pro-inflammatory immune responses via NFKB and IRF-1, which may affect pathophysiological processes in physiological hyperprolactinemic states.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=3242774518&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Journal articles
C2 - 15319167
AN - SCOPUS:3242774518
SN - 1148-5493
VL - 15
SP - 99
EP - 104
JO - European Cytokine Network
JF - European Cytokine Network
IS - 2
ER -