Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41476991›Full record

ReviewInternational journal of endocrinology2025

Prolactin: A Key Immunoregulator in Viral Infections and Autoimmune Diseases.

Mina Asadikaram, Saeed Bahrampour, Mahdis Rahimi Naiini, Abdollah Jafarzadeh, Clifford Rosen, Gholamreza Asadikaram

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of endocrinology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. The HIV Reservoir and Immune Landscape Across the Life Course of Women: Implications for Cure Strategies.American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989) · 2026
    Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Mina AsadikaramApplied Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran, kmu.ac.ir.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5531-0316
Saeed BahrampourDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry, Afzalipour School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran, kmu.ac.ir.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7562-4828
Mahdis Rahimi NaiiniApplied Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran, kmu.ac.ir.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4108-8104
Abdollah JafarzadehApplied Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran, kmu.ac.ir.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8180-0602
Clifford RosenMaineHealth Institute for Research, Scarborough, Maine, 04074, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3436-8199
Gholamreza AsadikaramApplied Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran, kmu.ac.ir.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9100-0756

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Prolactin (PRL) is secreted by various cells in the anterior pituitary gland, mammary glands, placenta, uterus, ovaries, testes, skin, adipose tissue, endothelial cells, immune system, and central nervous system. The expression and secretion of PRL are influenced by several factors such as suckling, thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), cytokines, dopamine, estrogen, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. It operates through a complex receptor, which is expressed in mammary gland cells, pancreatic beta cells, adipocytes, and immune cells. PRL is essential for various physiological functions, in particular milk production, breast development, metabolism, and immune regulation. Serum PRL levels fluctuate daily and can be affected by exercise, diet, and stress. Hyperprolactinemia is linked to autoimmune diseases and viral infections. In viral infections such as HIV, HCMV, HCV, and COVID-19, PRL levels are often increased, which may influence the immune responses. PRL can modulate the activity of various immune cells, including T cells, B cells, natural killer cells, and macrophages, mounting an effective immune response against viral infections. Moreover, PRL influences the production of cytokines that mediate and regulate immunity and inflammation. PRL stimulates B cells to produce antivirus antibodies that are essential for neutralizing viruses and preventing their spread within the body. PRL levels, varying by sex and life stage, may affect immune responses and susceptibility to viral infections. Moreover, overexpression of PRL was indicated in various autoimmune diseases. Overall, PRL is a complex hormone with significant implications for endocrine function, immune regulation, and immune responses to viral infections, highlighting the need for further research into its diverse roles in health and disease. This review summarizes current knowledge of the immunomodulatory effects of PRL in human viral infections and possibly its contribution to the development of autoimmune diseases.

Indexed as

autoimmune diseasesimmune responseprolactinviral infections

Identifiers

PMID41476991
PMCPMC12752839

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.