title: Prolactin, growth hormone and the immune system in humans.
abstract: Prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) qualify as lymphoid growth and differentiation factors. Yet, long-standing hyper- or hyposecretion of PRL or GH does not induce any significant alteration of the immune system. Subclinical changes in laboratory parameters (such as chemotaxis or phagocytosis by granulocytes or macrophages or natural killer cell activity) have been reported in some of these conditions. The GH-insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I axis is dysregulated in ageing, in catabolic states and in critical illness. Immune parameters, such as infection rate, are being monitored during clinical trials with GH or IGF-I. Hyperprolactinaemia may play an aggravating role in systemic lupus erythematosus, in autoimmune thyroiditis and in other autoimmune diseases. The patient may benefit from increased alertness about interactions between the endocrine and immune systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, Free University of Brussels (VUB), Belgium.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Velkeniers
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dogusan
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Naessens
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hooghe
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Hooghe-Peters
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000502:physiology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000502:physiology*; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin / Q000502:physiology*; D011986:Receptors, Somatotropin / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D011981:Receptors, Prolactin; D011986:Receptors, Somatotropin; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D011388:Prolactin