Autocrine prolactin: an emerging market for homegrown (prolactin) despite the imports.
Prolactin (PRL) is a peptide hormone that is produced by the pituitary gland and is known to regulate lactogenic differentiation. There is a significant body of evidence that points to autocrine production of prolactin and activation of an autocrine/paracrine signaling pathway to regulate cell proliferation and migration and inhibition of cell death. This perspective highlights the recent study in the October 1, 2012, issue of Genes & Development by Chen and colleagues (pp. 2154-2168) that describes a mechanism for autocrine prolactin production and places the finding in the context of a role for prolactin in breast development and cancer.
Ontario Cancer Institute, Princess Margaret Hospital, Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. s.muthuswamy@utoronto.ca
Senthil K
SK
Muthuswamy
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D050799:STAT5 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*
D050799:STAT5 Transcription Factor; D011388:Prolactin; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt