title: Increased serum level of prolactin is related to autoantibody production in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prolactin (PRL) is known to aid effector B cells and augment autoimmunity, but the role of PRL in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is not fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between the serum levels of PRL and autoantibody production in SLE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood levels of PRL, anti-double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA) antibody, immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) were determined in samples from 30 adult patients with SLE and 25 healthy controls. The relationships between the serum level of PRL and SLE disease activity, as well as the titres of the ds-DNA antibody, IgM and IgG were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum level of PRL was higher in the SLE patients than in the healthy controls. PRL concentration increased during SLE flares-ups and decreased following disease remission. There was a positive correlation between the PRL concentration and serum levels of IgM, IgG and ds-DNA antibody titre.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that the serum level of PRL was closely related to the antibody production and disease activity of SLE patients. PRL concentration was dramatically reduced upon the remission of disease activity, indicating that PRL levels might be a promising predictor of SLE disease severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China Institute of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China li.ming@zs-hospital.sh.cn.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D012074:Remission Induction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D015415:Biomarkers; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011388:Prolactin
keywords: Systemic lupus erythematosus; antibody; prolactin