Prolactin modulation of immune and inflammatory responses

Prolactin (PRL), a pituitary peptide hormone, is known to regulate diverse physiological functions via its effects on cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and cell survival. All these activities are mediated by the PRL receptor (PRL-R), a member of the hematopoietin cytokine receptor superfamily. To understand PRL-dependent mitogenic signaling in T cells, we cloned PRL. PRL-R, one mediator of PRL signaling, signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat) 5b, and a panel of PRL-inducible immediate early-response genes from T cells. We are employing one of these PRL-inducible genes, the transcription factor interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1), a multifunctional immune regulator gene, as a tool to understand how PRL modulates T-cell proliferative responses. In investigating regulatory events along the PRL-R/Janus activating kinase (JAK)/Stat/IRF-1 signaling pathway, we show that Stat factors can activate as well as inhibit IRF-1 promoter activity and that cross talk between Stat and nuclear factor (NF)kappaB signaling pathways also regulates IRF-1 expression. In understanding how signaling pathways cross talk at the IRF-1 promoter, we obtained insights into how PRL can modulate immune and inflammatory responses. These findings have much broader implications, not only for cells in the immune system but also for other PRL-responsive cells and tissues.