Vera-Lastra Olga, Jara Luis J, Espinoza Luis R
Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico La Raza, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico.
Autoimmun Rev. 2002 Dec;1(6):360-4. doi: 10.1016/s1568-9972(02)00081-2.
Prolactin (PRL) is a versatile hormone that is produced by the anterior pituitary gland and various extrapituitary sites including immune cells. Furthermore, PRL has widespread influences on proliferation and differentiation of a variety of cells in the immune system and is, in effect, a cytokine. PRL-receptors (PRL-R) are distributed throughout the immune system and are included as members of the cytokine receptor superfamily. PRL-R signal transduction is mediated by a complex array of signaling molecules of which JAK2, Stat1 and Stat5 pathway have been well studied. In PRL-stimulated T cells, the transcription factor gene, interferon regulatory factor-1 provides a mechanism whereby PRL can regulate the immune response. The human PRL gene is situated on the short arm of chromosome 6 close to the major histocompatibility complex. Polymorphisms of the human PRL gene have implications for production of lymphocyte PRL in SLE. Mild and moderate hyperprolactinemia (HPRL) has been demonstrated in 20-30% of SLE patients and is associated with active disease. HPRL may have a role in lupus nephritis and central nervous system involvement of SLE patients. HPRL stimulated the production of autoantibodies. These evidences support the important role of PRL in autoimmunity and autoimmune diseases, mainly SLE.
催乳素（PRL）是一种多功能激素，由垂体前叶以及包括免疫细胞在内的各种垂体外部位产生。此外，PRL对免疫系统中多种细胞的增殖和分化具有广泛影响，实际上是一种细胞因子。PRL受体（PRL-R）分布于整个免疫系统，属于细胞因子受体超家族成员。PRL-R信号转导由一系列复杂的信号分子介导，其中JAK2、Stat1和Stat5途径已得到充分研究。在PRL刺激的T细胞中，转录因子基因干扰素调节因子-1提供了一种PRL调节免疫反应的机制。人类PRL基因位于6号染色体短臂上，靠近主要组织相容性复合体。人类PRL基因的多态性与系统性红斑狼疮（SLE）中淋巴细胞PRL的产生有关。20%至30%的SLE患者存在轻度和中度高催乳素血症（HPRL），且与疾病活动相关。HPRL可能在SLE患者的狼疮性肾炎和中枢神经系统受累中起作用。HPRL刺激自身抗体的产生。这些证据支持PRL在自身免疫和自身免疫性疾病（主要是SLE）中的重要作用。
