title: Prolactin and autoimmune disease.
abstract: A number of reports have shown that PRL is an immune-stimulating hormone that is capable of stimulating organ-specific inflammatory disease in humans. More recently, hyperprolactinemia has been associated with the active phase of the immune-complex-mediated autoimmune disease, systemic lupus erythematosus. The theory that PRL contributes substantially to disease activity was upheld in the NZB/W mouse model of spontaneous, hormone-sensitive lupus. Implanted pituitary glands resulted in hyperprolactinemia, accelerated proteinuria, high levels of circulating IgG, and premature death. Therapeutic studies with NZB/W mice, as well as anecdotal evidence from a small number of patients, have provided evidence that PRL suppressive therapy may be beneficial in selected cases of autoimmune disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201-5297, USA.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: McMurray