Neuroendocrine dopaminergic regulation of prolactin release in systemic lupus erythematosus: a possible role of lymphocyte-derived prolactin.

Prolactin (PRL) secretion by the pituitary is under the control of dopamine. Hyperprolactinemia has been found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and seems to be associated with clinical activity. T-lymphocytes express PRL and those from SLE patients appear to secrete more PRL than controls. In this study, immuno-(RIA) and bio-(BIO) assayable PRL in both serum and culture media of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) from SLE and control subjects were evaluated in the basal state and in response to 10 mg oral administration of metoclopramide, a dopamine receptor antagonist. Prolactin size heterogeneity in serum and culture media and PRL gene transcription in PBMNC were also studied. Basal serum RIA-PRL, BIO-PRL and the BIO/RIA ratio were similar in both groups. The serum BIO-PRL response after metoclopramide was higher than RIA-PRL in SLE, and this increment was also greater than in control subjects. PBMNC from SLE subjects secreted and produced more BIO-PRL. After metoclopramide, secretion and production of PRL increased only in PBMNC from control women and not in those from SLE patients. Our results demonstrated an increased central dopaminergic tone in SLE and suggest that lymphocyte-derived PRL might contribute to alter the functional activity of the hypothalamic dopaminergic system in SLE attempting to maintain serum PRL within a physiological range.