title: [Increase of circulating levels of thymulin in hyperprolactinemia and acromegaly].
abstract: The production of thymulin by the thymic epithelium is under complex control involving the endocrine system. Experimental models have suggested that prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) participate in this regulation but this has not been documented in humans. Using a bioassay we measured circulating thymulin levels in patients with hyperprolactinemia (n = 21), acromegaly (n = 15), or both (n = 6). Thymulin was elevated in these three groups of patients compared with normal subjects or with patients with pituitary disease but no excess in PRL or GH. Contrasting with observations in control groups, thymulin did not decrease as a function of age in patients. No correlation between thymulin and PRL or GH levels was observed while thymulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 levels were correlated. A new radioimmunoassay used in some patients for thymulin determination yielded similar results. Overall these data demonstrate that PRL and GH are involved in the hormonal control of thymulin production by the thymic epithelium in the human.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne-Endocrinologie, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Timsit
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Safieh
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gagnerault
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Savino
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lubetzki
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dardenne
mesh_terms: D000172:Acromegaly / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006966:Hyperprolactinemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000097:blood; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013935:Thymic Factor, Circulating / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D013951:Thymus Hormones / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D013951:Thymus Hormones; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013935:Thymic Factor, Circulating
vernacular_title: Augmentation des taux circulants de thymuline au cours de l'hyperprolactinémie et de l'acromégalie.