title: Hyperprolactinemia in acute myeloid leukemia and indication of ectopic expression of human prolactin in blast cells of a patient of subtype M4.
abstract: The sera of 28 patients with acute myeloid leukemia AML--subtypes M1 to M6 were screened for human prolactin (h-PRL). Serum TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), LH (luteinizing hormone), FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), beta-estradiol, free T4 (tetra-iodotyronine) and testosterone were also determined. It was found that in 16 of the 28 patients h-PRL was significantly elevated while all other endocrine values were normal. In a patient subtype M4 with elevated serum h-PRL we demonstrate by immunoblotting that the hormone and its dimer are present in the blast cells. This may reflect ectopic synthesis due to altered expression of homeobox genes and a requirement of h-PRL as a growth stimulant of the leukemic myeloblast.
authors.affiliation: Radiobiology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, Republic of South Africa.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hatfill
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanley
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rybicki
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Böhm
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D006801:Humans; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D015479:Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin