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Horm Metab Res 2020; 52(04): 228-235
DOI: 10.1055/a-1126-4272
Endocrine Care
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Immunomodulating Effects Depend on Prolactin Levels in Patients with Hyperprolactinemia

Lea Ewerman 
1   Department of Endocrinology, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
,
Eva Landberg 
2   Department of Clinical Chemistry, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
,
Sandra Hellberg 
3   Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
,
Mina Hovland 
3   Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
,
Anna Sundin 
3   Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
,
Maria C. Jenmalm 
3   Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
,
Bertil Ekman 
1   Department of Endocrinology, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
,
Jan Ernerudh  ‡
4   Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
,
Jeanette Wahlberg‡
1   Department of Endocrinology, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
› Author Affiliations Funding Information: Financial support was received from the Linköping University, Sweden, ALF grants No. 63341, and from the Medical Research Council of Southeast Sweden, No. 4065.
Further Information

Publication History

received 02 June 2019

accepted 18 February 2020

Publication Date:
08 April 2020 (online)

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Abstract

Prolactin is known to have immune modulatory effects acting through the prolactin receptor, which is present on a variety of immune cells. Certain chemokines contribute to form the type of T helper (Th) preponderance in the immune response. The objective of this work was to assess if hyperprolactinemia not related to pregnancy is associated with changes in circulating levels of chemokines and other immunological markers. In this cross sectional study, 35 patients with hyperprolactinemia (5 men), and 102 healthy blood donors (19 men) were included. Serum levels of Th1- Th2- and Th17-associated chemokines, C-reactive protein, immunoglobulins, and the B cell attracting chemokine CXCL13 were assessed. The hyperprolactinemic group had significantly higher levels of Th2 associated CCL22 (p=0.022), Th17 associated CXCL1 (p=0.001), B cell attracting CXCL13 (p=0.003), and C-reactive protein (p<0.001) compared to controls, and these proteins were also positively correlated with prolactin levels. While differences in CCL22, CXCL1, CXCL13, and C-reactive protein were present in patients with low or moderate hyperprolactinemia, no differences were observed at high (>3600 mU/l) prolactin levels. To evaluate a possible dose-associated response to prolactin, an in vitro model was used, showing prolactin-induced increase in T-helper cell activation at moderate levels, while activation decreased at higher levels. Hyperprolactinemia seems to have several immunomodulatory effects and was associated with increased levels of chemokines associated with Th2 and Th17 responses and B cell attraction. However, patients with greatly increased prolactin had normal levels of chemokines, and in vitro, high levels of prolactin decreased T-helper cell activation.

Key words

chemokines - autoimmunity - prolactin - hyperprolactinemia
 

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