title: Prolactin, dendritic cells, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DC) play a central role in the induction of autoimmunity in T and B cells. DC express a high level of the major histocompatibility complex that interact with the receptors on T cells. Immature DC present antigens efficiently. Prolactin (PRL) participates in DC maturation. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by a loss of tolerance to self-antigens and persistent production of autoantibodies. Serum from SLE patients induces normal monocytes to differentiate into DC in correlation with disease activity depending on the actions of interferon-alpha, immune complexes, PRL, etc. High serum PRL levels have been found in a subset of SLE patients associated with active disease and organ involvement. It is possible that PRL interacts with DC, skewing its function from antigen presentation to a proinflammatory phenotype with high interferon-alpha production. Therefore, SLE is characterized by deficiency of DC functions and abnormal PRL secretion. The relationships between PRL and DC may have a role in the pathogenesis of SLE.
authors.affiliation: Direction of Education and Research, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialización, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico La Raza, IMSS, Mexico. luis_jara_quezada@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Luis J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Jara
authors.forename: Gamaliel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benitez
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Medina
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011388:Prolactin