Prolactin and prolactin-like polypeptides in rheumatoid arthritis

M Neidhart, RE Gay, S Gay - Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy, 1999 - Elsevier
M Neidhart, RE Gay, S Gay
Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy, 1999Elsevier
A bidirectional communication network exists between the neuroendocrine and immune
systems, and a dysfunctional communication may contribute to the development of
autoimmune diseases in various species, including humans. Experimental, epidemiological,
and clinical data suggest that breast feeding and hyperprolactinemia constitute a risk factor
for the development of diseases with autoimmune components, including rheumatoid
arthritis (RA). We hypothesized that the anterior pituitary hormone prolactin (Prl) and locally …
A bidirectional communication network exists between the neuroendocrine and immune systems, and a dysfunctional communication may contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases in various species, including humans. Experimental, epidemiological, and clinical data suggest that breast feeding and hyperprolactinemia constitute a risk factor for the development of diseases with autoimmune components, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We hypothesized that the anterior pituitary hormone prolactin (Prl) and locally produced Prl-like polypeptides may act as endocrine, autocrine, and paracrine regulators of synovial cell functions. They may participate not only in enhancing T-lymphocyte immune reactivity, but also in the exacerbation of RA lesions through their influence on synovial fibroblasts. In RA synovial tissue, Prl-like polypeptides could participate in a bidirectional communication between immunocytes and fibroblasts. Both Prl and Prl-like polypeptides might act via proto-oncogenes and transcriptional factors, leading to cell proliferation, i.e., synovial tissue hyperplasia, neo-angiogenesis, and the production of catabolic enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases and cathepsins. In such cases, they could represent important regulators of the T-cell independent mechanism of joint destruction.
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