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- Title
Reduced number of natural killer cells in patients with pathological hyperprolactinemia.
- Authors
Gerli, G.; Rambotti, P.; Nicoletti, I.; Orland, S.; Migliorati, G.; Riccardi, C.
- Abstract
natural killer (NK) cell activity, as measured against K-562 target cells, was evaluated in 23 untreated and in 11 bromocriptine-treated hyperprolactinemia female patients and in 63 age-matched healthy women using 51Cr-release assay. The NK cell activity was significantly reduced in untreated hyperprolactinemia patients with respect to that of normal subjects, but therapy with bromocriptine restored NK cell function of patients to the levels of normal controls. Moreover, a reduced number of Leu-7+ cells and of large granular lymphocytes in hyperprolactinemia patients, as compared to normal controls and bromocriptine-treated subjects, correlated well with the decreased NK activity. Finally, 'in vitro' incubation with purified human prolactin, did not affect NK cell activity of blood mononuclear cells. The present results demonstrate that pathological hyperprolactinemia, in which a tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic defect has been postulated, is also associated with a reduction in NK cell number and function and indicate a possible interaction between prolactin, neuroendocrine system and NK cell lineage in man.
- Subjects
KILLER cells; IMMUNOCOMPETENT cells; HYPERPROLACTINEMIA; METABOLIC disorders; CELL physiology; LYMPHOCYTES
- Publication
Clinical & Experimental Immunology, 1986, Vol 64, Issue 2, p399
- ISSN
0009-9104
- Publication type
Article