Hyperprolactinemia in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Prolactin is a dual function protein that functions both as a hormone as well as a cytokine (Ben-Jonathan et al., 1996). Prolactin is synthesized and secreted from pituitary gland and its primary role is to help initiate and maintain breast milk production in pregnant and nursing women (PRL prolactin). Prolactin is also synthesized and secreted from the cells of the immune system such as macrophages, natural killer cells, and Tand B-lymphocytes. Prolactin secreted from the immune cells act by stimulating the secretion of other cytokines as well asfunctions as a survival and growth and factor. The gene for prolactin is located in chromosome 6, the genetic locus is 6p 22.32. The prolactin gene is nearly 10Kb in size and the gene has 5 exons and 4 introns (Cooke et al., 1981). Mature human prolactin has 199 aminoacids and has molecular mass of approximately 23,000 Daltons. Prolactin on binding to its target prolactin receptor results in the activation JAK-STAT pathway. This augments the intracellular expression of IRF1 (Interferon regulatory factor 1) that cause transcription of IFN-γ which mediates the International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 5 (2017) pp. 2788-2792 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com