Prolactin in inflammatory response

Abstract

Prolactin (PRL) is a peptide hormone produced by the pituitary gland and diverse extrapituitary sites, which triggers activation of various signaling pathways after binding to its receptor (PRLr) resulting in the activation of specific genes associated with the pleiotropic activities of PLR. To date, various PRLr isoforms have been described, generated by post-transcriptional or post-translational processes. PRL has been associated with the modulation of a variety of actions in the immune response and inflammatory processes in several physiologic and pathologic conditions. However, PRL can have opposite effects, which might be regulated by interaction with the various isoforms of PRLR and PRL variants, as well as the cellular and molecular microenvironment influence.