Defective natural killer cell activity in puerperal hyperprolactinemia

Abstract

Prolactin (PRL) influences immune reactivity in animals and in humans and both T-cell abnormalities and reduced natural killer (NK) cell activity have been reported in women with pathological hyperprolactinemia. To investigate further the possible interactions between PRL and the immune system in humans, we analysed T-cell phenotypes and NK cell activity in 15 women with physiological hyperprolactinemia of the puerperium and in 45 age-matched healthy normal cycling women. Puerperal women displayed a normal T-cell phenotype but a significant reduction in the number of Leu-7+ and Leu-11+ cells, associated with a decreased NK cell activity, as measured against K-562 target cells. There was a significant inverse correlation between the raised serum PRL levels and both the number of Leu-7+ cells and NK cell activity. These data confirm an important immunoregulatory role for PRL in humans and suggest a direct inhibitory effect of the chronically raised PRL concentrations on the maturation of NK cells.