The role of prolactin in psoriasis

Background: Despite its well known a variety of biological activities, it has been suggested that prolactin acts as an important in vivo modulator of cellular and humoral immunity and has some effects about skin epithelial cell proliferation and skin immune system. Objective: It was studied whether the relationship between psoriasis, which is a common inflammatory skin disease of still obscure etiology characterized by epidermal hyperplasia and dyskeratinization, and serum levels of prolactin. Materials and Methods: Serum levels of prolactin were estimated in 34 patients with psoriasis and the results were compared with those in 21 normal control subjects. Serum levels of prolactin were measured with chemiluminescent enzyme immunometric assay by using DPC commercial kits on Immulite One hormone analyser. Results: When serum prolactin levels in patients with psoriasis (mean ± SD: 8,9±5,4 ng/ml) were compared with those in normal control subjects (mean ± SD: 9,13±5,18 ng/ml), it was no significant difference between two groups (p= 0.548). Conclusion: In recent years, it has become apparent that prolactin plays an important part in the immune reactions and exerts a proliferative effect on human keratinocytes. But in our study, serum prolactin levels were not found significantly higher in patients with psoriasis. When it was took into consideration that there were powerful data supported the role of prolactin in epithelial proliferation and immunoregulation, it was thought that it should be performed further studies on this topic.