期刊名称：Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
印刷版ISSN：0027-8424
电子版ISSN：1091-6490
出版年度：1991
卷号：88
期号：21
页码：9700-9704
DOI：10.1073/pnas.88.21.9700
语种：English
出版社：The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
摘要：Thymic epithelial cells (TECs), the major component of the thymic microenvironment, can be modulated by pituitary hormones. We have shown previously that prolactin (PRL) can influence the endocrine activity of TECs and stimulate TEC proliferation as well as cytokeratin expression, suggesting the existence of PRL receptors on TECs. Using a series of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to the extracellular domain of the rat liver PRL receptor, we have demonstrate that rat TECs bear specific receptors for PRL, as assessed by immunoblotting as well as by immunocytochemistry experiments. Using a probe specific for the long form of PRL receptor, mRNAs of 6.7 and 10.1 kilobases were detected, although by immunoblot the major protein in TECs had a molecular mass of 43 kDa. Functionally, these mAbs were able to modulate thymulin secretion, as well as TEC proliferation. Moreover, the mAbs cross-reacted with human TECs and were able to mimic the action of PRL on these cells. These data bring further support for the general concept of the neuroendocrine immune circuit and extend the notion for a pleiotropic role of PRL as an immunomodulatory hormone.
