Prolactin Role in COVID-19 and Its Association with the Underlying Inflammatory Response

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Endocrinology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitates reliable biomarkers for disease severity prediction.
• Prolactin (PRL), a hormone with immune-modulating functions, has emerged as a potential biomarker.
• Understanding PRL's role in COVID-19 pathogenesis is crucial for clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate Prolactin (PRL) as a predictive biomarker for COVID-19 disease severity.
• To investigate the association between baseline PRL levels, cytokine profiles, and clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort of 142 moderate-to-severe COVID-19 patients (WHO-CPS 5 or 6) was studied.
• Baseline serum Prolactin (PRL) levels were measured via electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.
• Serum cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, TNF-α) were quantified using flow cytometry.

Main Results:

• Higher PRL levels were observed in female patients (12.95 ng/mL vs. 9.40 ng/mL, p < 0.001).
• PRL levels did not correlate with severity indices (CCI, SOFA score) or inflammatory markers.
• No significant associations were found between PRL, cytokine levels, and clinical outcomes (mortality, invasive mechanical ventilation).

Conclusions:

• Prolactin (PRL) demonstrates limited prognostic reliability for COVID-19 disease severity.
• Established predictive markers appear more reliable than PRL for assessing COVID-19 severity.
• The precise role of PRL in the COVID-19 immune response requires further investigation.