Prolactin Increases the Frequency of Follicular T Helper Cells with Enhanced IL21 Secretion and OX40 Expression in Lupus-Prone MRL/lpr Mice.

ABSTRACT: Systemic lupus erythematosus is characterized by high levels of IgG class autoantibodies that contribute to the pathophysiology of the disease. The formation of these autoantibodies occurs in the germinal centers, where there is cooperation between follicular T helper cells (T_FH) and autoreactive B cells. Prolactin has been reported to exacerbate the clinical manifestations of lupus by increasing autoantibody concentrations. The objective of this study was to characterize the participation of prolactin in the differentiation and activation of T_FH cells, by performing in vivo and in vitro tests with lupus-prone mice, using flow cytometry and real-time PCR. We found that T_FH cells express the long isoform of the prolactin receptor and promoted STAT3 phosphory

SUBMITTER: Aleman-Garcia YP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7963914 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature