Prolactin has been shown to have an immunoregulatory role in the rodent immune response. A prolactinlike molecule has also been found in mouse splenocytes and a human B-lymphoblastoid cell line. We have evaluated whether human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) synthesize and/or secrete prolactin. We used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to generate a 276-base-pair prolactin product from human PBMCs, and Southern blot analysis confirmed that it was related to prolactin. Western blotting using a polyclonal antibody to prolactin indicated that cell extracts prepared from human PBMCs contained a high molecular mass (60-kDa) immunoreactive prolactin. To determine whether this PBMC prolactin was being secreted, we developed a highly sensitive and specific hormonal enzyme-linked immunoplaque assay. With this assay, we were able to detect human prolactin secretion from concanavalin A (Con A)-or phytohemagglutinin-stimulated PBMCs but not from unstimulated PBMCs. We next sought to determine whether this secreted prolactin could function as an autocrine growth factor in lymphoproliferation. We observed that anti-human prolactin antiserum significanly inhibited human PBMC proliferation in response to Con A or phytohemagglutinin. We conclude that a prolactin-like molecule is synthesized and secreted by human PBMCs and that it functions in an autocrine manner as a growth factor for lymphoproliferation.Recent studies suggest an immunoregulatory role for prolactin in rodents. In animals, hypophysectomy results in cessation of the growth of the thymus gland (1), decreased antibody titers against sheep red blood cells, and depressed delayed hypersensitivity reaction to chlorodinitrobenzene (2). Bromocryptine-induced hypoprolactinemia in mice injected with Listeria monocytogenes increases mortality that is associated with impaired lymphocyte proliferation and decreased production of macrophage-activating factors by T lymphocytes (3). Further, a prolactin-like molecule is secreted following Con A stimulation of murine lymphocytes (4), and a prolactin-like mRNA as well as a secreted product have been detected in human B-lymphoblastoid cell lines (5, 6). In contrast, Clevenger et al. (7) could not demonstrate prolactin-specific mRNA or prolactin secretion following interleukin 2 stimulation of a mouse T-lymphocyte line.Several investigators (7-9) using rodent lymphoid cell lines or splenocytes have found that a prolactin-like protein is required for lymphocyte mitogenesis. The relevance of these observations to human cellular immunity has not been explored. Here we document that human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) synthesize and secrete a prolactin-like molecule that functions in an autocrine loop as a growth factor for lymphoproliferation. MATERIALS AND METHODSOligonucleotide Primer Design. The sequences and positions of the two 21-mer primers used for PCR amplification of human prolactin cDNA are shown in Fig. 1 (10). The 5' primer is located within exon 3 of the human prolactin gene and the 3' pri...

There is increasing evidence that GH can influence immune function and that it is secreted by lymphocytes. In the present study we investigated the endogenous synthesis and secretion of GH and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) from human thymocytes and evaluated the autocrine/paracrine effects of GH and IGF-I on T cell and thymic epithelial cell proliferation. First, the presence of thymic GH and IGF-I was detected by RIA of thymocyte extracts. Next, using a hormonal enzyme-linked immunoplaque assay, we found that thymocytes secreted GH and IGF-I. Further, we documented the endogenous synthesis of GH by human thymocytes using [35S]methionine labeling followed by immunoprecipitation, gel electrophoresis, and autoradiography. We then evaluated the physiological role of endogenously generated GH and IGF-I. Using an affinity-purified-GH polyclonal antibody, we observed a marked inhibition (P < 0.04) of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated thymocyte proliferation, suggesting an autocrine/paracrine role for the secreted GH. Further, we observed significant (P < 0.001) increases in thymocyte proliferation in cultures stimulated with varying doses of GH and IGF-I. Also, conditioned medium of human thymocytes (1 x 10(5) cells) stimulated with GH for 48 h contained a significant (P < 0.001) amount of IGF-I. Thymocyte proliferation stimulated by GH was significantly (P < 0.01) inhibited by monoclonal as well as polyclonal human IGF-I antisera. Finally, we studied the paracrine effect of thymocyte-secreted GH on human primary thymic epithelial cell (TEC) cultures. A significant (P < 0.05) increase in [3H]thymidine uptake in TEC cultures after GH addition was observed, which was abolished by GH antiserum. Polyclonal and monoclonal IGF-I antisera significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited GH-stimulated TEC proliferation. In summary, human thymocytes synthesize and secrete GH and IGF-I. Further, GH functions as an autocrine/paracrine growth factor in the human thymus via locally synthesized IGF-I.

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Idiopathic hyperprolactinemia can be found in men with either normal or low serum testosterone (T) levels. The explanation for the differing effects on T of similar PRL levels has not been found. Macroprolactinemia, as a clinical entity, has been reported mostly in women. These macromolecules are biologically less active and/or are transported less easily across the capillary bed than the 22-kDa molecules. Therefore, women with elevated PRL levels retain normal menses and fertility. We studied six men, aged 28-53 yr (mean, 45 yr), in whom hyperprolactinemia was initially considered to be the cause of their erectile dysfunction. PRL levels ranged from 25-92 ng/mL (normal, 2-15 ng/mL), but T and gonadotropin levels were normal, suggesting that PRL was not disrupting gonadotropin and gonadal steroid function. The results of magnetic resonance imaging studies of the pituitary gland were normal. Separation by Sephadex G-100 column chromatography showed a predominance (85-90%) of big (60 kDa) and big big ( > 150 kDa) PRL, in contrast to the predominance of 22-kDa PRL in normal subjects. Nocturnal tumescence testing was normal, supporting the diagnosis of psychogenic impotence in these subjects, and potency returned after counseling. Hence, the biologically inactive macroprolactinemia did not cause any organic derangement in erectile function. It further obscured and delayed the appropriate diagnosis and treatment of these individuals.

In order to evaluate the secretion of GH from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and its possible role as a modulator of lymphoproliferation, we have developed a hormonal enzyme-linked immunoplaque assay. This assay captures GH between a monoclonal and polyclonal antibody. This is followed by adding substrate and a horseradish peroxidase-conjugated antibody against the polyclonal antibody which produces violet colored plaques where GH has been secreted. This assay is sensitive, specific, highly reproducible, and can detect picogram quantities of GH. Using this assay we have detected GH secretion from approximately 1% of human PBMC under unstimulated conditions. Regression analysis showed a linear relationship between the number of cells plated and the number of GH plaques formed. Therefore, GH plaques were formed by single cells or its progeny and did not represent aggregation of secreting cells. Preincubation of PBMC with cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, completely abolished the formation of GH plaques which suggests that the PBMC were responsible for the synthesis of the secreted GH. In addition, we have also observed that stimulation of human PBMC with T-cell mitogens, Concanavalin A and PHA and the cytokine IL-2 led to significant increases in GH plaque area and number whereas stimulation with LPS, a B cell mitogen, was ineffective. The PHA and IL-2 induced increase in plaque number suggests that they can recruit noncommitted lymphocytes to actively secrete GH which raises the possibility that this secreted GH may serve as a growth factor in T cell proliferation. We conclude that this immunoplaque assay may be useful in evaluating the secretion of other peptides from human immune cells.

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We the Indians are fortunate to have G20 presidency this year i.e., 2023. India has lot to contribute to improve world’s economy by achieving sustainable development goals. Indian knowledge system of Ayurveda which is soft power of India is capable of achieving universal health. G20 is a platform to showcase the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda which is not only meant for human beings but also for animals, plants & environment. Ayurveda the traditional Indian system of medicine which is in our culture has the potential to become future medicine of the world. As the latest researches in conventional medicine & IT sector are only decoding the scientific aspects of the Ayurvedic fundamental concepts. As Ayurveda science has unique description of human body which is the latest global trend in research like Artificial intelligence and machine learning is indulged to know the complex description of human body as mentioned in ancient texts. Similarly, science of epigenetics has revealed the interaction of environment and their impact on human genes which was already described in traditional texts of India. The latest global research trend of merging ancient wisdom of subtle body with the science of quantum physics to bring wellness through integrative quantum health is achieving many mile stones. The science of bioinformatics and Ayurveda (Ayurinformatics) has already done a marvellous work for in silico molecular finding for Covid-19 which has proven the potential of Traditional Indian medicine in dreadful pandemic.