Prolactin Rescues Immature B-Cells from Apoptosis Induced by B-Cell Receptor Cross-Linking

J Immunol Res. 2016:2016:3219017. doi: 10.1155/2016/3219017. Epub 2016 May 24.

Abstract

Prolactin has an immunomodulatory effect and has been associated with B-cell-triggered autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In mice that develop SLE, the PRL receptor is expressed in early bone marrow B-cells, and increased levels of PRL hasten disease manifestations, which are correlated with a reduction in the absolute number of immature B-cells. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of PRL in an in vitro system of B-cell tolerance using WEHI-231 cells and immature B-cells from lupus prone MRL/lpr mice. WEHI-231 cells express the long isoform of the PRL receptor, and PRL rescued the cells from cell death by decreasing the apoptosis induced by the cross-linking of the B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) as measured by Annexin V and active caspase-3. This decrease in apoptosis may have been due to the PRL and receptor interaction, which increased the relative expression of antiapoptotic Bcl-xL and decreased the relative expression of proapoptotic Bad. In immature B-cells from MRL/lpr mice, PRL increased the viability and decreased the apoptosis induced by the cross-linking of BCR, which may favor the maturation of self-reactive B-cells and contribute to the onset of disease.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis* / drug effects
  • Apoptosis* / genetics
  • Apoptosis* / immunology
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / immunology
  • Gene Expression
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred MRL lpr
  • Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid / cytology*
  • Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid / drug effects
  • Precursor Cells, B-Lymphoid / metabolism*
  • Prolactin / metabolism*
  • Prolactin / pharmacology
  • Protein Binding
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Prolactin / genetics
  • Receptors, Prolactin / metabolism

Substances

  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • Receptors, Prolactin
  • Prolactin
  • Caspase 3