title: Prolactin: a versatile regulator of inflammation and autoimmune pathology.
abstract: Prolactin (PRL) has long been proposed as an immune-stimulating and detrimental factor in autoimmune disorders. However, recent findings have challenged this common view, showing that PRL does not play a crucial role in the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS), and even protects against adjuvant-induced model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this review we provide a critical overview of data supporting a role for PRL in the regulation of immune responses. In addition, we focus on studies exploring the involvement of PRL in autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, MS and RA, in light of the recently-outlined regenerative properties of this hormone.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Disorder Unit, Neurological Institute Foundation IRCCS C. Besta, Milan 20133, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costanza
authors.affiliation: INSERM U693, Université Paris-Sud, Faculté de Médecine Paris-Sud, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre 94276, France.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Binart
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Steinman
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Disorder Unit, Neurological Institute Foundation IRCCS C. Besta, Milan 20133, Italy. Electronic address: rpedotti@istituto-besta.it.
authors.forename: Rosetta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pedotti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D011388:Prolactin / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin
keywords: Inflammation; Multiple sclerosis; Prolactin; Rheumatoid arthritis; Systemic lupus erythematosus; Tissue repair