Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma reduce prolactin release in vitro

Prolactin binds to lymphocytes and monocytes and can modulate immune cell function. It was postulated that proteins released from activated macrophages and lymphocytes could directly influence prolactin release and thus form an endocrine control loop during infection, tumor invasion, or inflammation. This hypothesis was tested by exposing cultured rat anterior pituitary cells to murine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and/or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) for 24 h before a 4-h test of cell function. Overall prolactin accumulation during this first 24 h was inhibited by TNF-alpha and markedly reduced by TNF-alpha plus IFN-gamma. In contrast, thyroid-stimulating hormone levels were unchanged in these same media. During the subsequent 4-h challenge, both cytokines reduced thyrotropin-releasing hormone-stimulated prolactin release but had no effect on inhibited prolactin release mediated by dopamine and somatostatin receptors. Cellular viability (assessed by trypan blue and chromium release assays) and prolactin cell content were unchanged after TNF-alpha or IFN-gamma treatment. We conclude that both TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma have the potential to act directly on anterior pituitary cells to slow the rate of prolactin release.