泌乳素及其受体的研究进展

Study Progress of Prolactin and Prolactin Receptor

泌乳素(PRL)又名催乳素,是由腺垂体及一些垂体外器官如乳腺、胸腺、脾脏等合成的一种多肽类激素,以内分泌、自分泌、旁分泌的形式发挥作用,其广泛参与机体生长发育、物质代谢、性腺功能调节、应激反应、免疫调节等。泌乳素通过与其受体(PRL receptor,PRLR)在靶细胞的细胞膜表面结合,激活下游的信号转导通路,发挥其生物学作用。由于泌乳素在人体内复杂的生物学效应,泌乳素及其受体又与乳腺癌、泌乳素瘤等多种疾病的发生发展及其预后密切相关。本文就泌乳素发挥效应时对其受体的激活、受体激活后的信号转导机制以及泌乳素同相关疾病的联系进行了综述,相信泌乳素及其受体的研究将为这些疾病的治疗提供重要的方向。

Prolactin（PRL）is a kind of protein hormone secreted by anterior pituitary and some extra-pituitary tissues such as breast, thymus and spleen, etc. It regulates its function by endocrine, paracrine and autocrine manners. PRL has a variety of biological functions, such as promoting growth and development, regulating substance metabolism, gonadal function, stress and immunity. PRL initiates its effects by binding to its receptor（PRLR） and activating its signal transduction pathways. PRL and its receptor play an important role in the growth and development of the human body. Because of its complex biological effects, PRL is closely related to the development and prognosis of a variety of human disease, such as breast cancer and prolactinoma. Recently, the role of PRL in some disease has been widespread concern and the researches of its signal transduction pathway provide some targets for the treatment of many diseases. PRL antagonists and PRLR antagonist have important clinical application.