Prolactin has a rich mechanistic set of actions and signaling in order to elicit developmental effects in mammals. Historically, prolactin has been appreciated as an endocrine peptide hormone that is responsible for final, functional mammary gland development and lactation. Multiple signaling pathways impacted upon by the microenvironment contribute to cell function and differentiation. Endocrine, autocrine and paracrine signaling are now apparent in not only mammary development, but also in cancer, and involve multiple cell types including those of the immune system. Multiple ligands agonists are capable of binding to the prolactin receptor, potentially expanding receptor function. Prolactin has an important role not only in tumorigenesis of the breast, but also in a number of hormonally responsive cancers such as prostate, ovarian and endometrial cancer, as well as pancreatic and lung cancer. Although pituitary and extra-pituitary sources of prolactin such as the epithelium are important, stromal sourced prolactin is now also being recognized as an important factor in tumor progression, all of which potentially signal to multiple cell types in the tumor microenvironment. While prolactin has important roles in milk production including calcium and bone homeostasis, in the disease state it can also affect bone homeostasis. Prolactin also impacts metastatic cancer of the breast to modulate the bone microenvironment and promote bone damage. Prolactin has a fascinating contribution in both physiologic and pathologic settings of mammals.

催乳素具有丰富的机制作用和信号，以引发哺乳动物的发育影响。从历史上看，催乳素被认为是一种内分泌肽激素，负责最终的功能性乳腺发育和泌乳。受微环境影响的多种信号通路有助于细胞功能和分化。内分泌、自分泌和旁分泌信号传导现在不仅在乳腺发育中很明显，而且在癌症中也很明显，并且涉及多种细胞类型，包括免疫系统的细胞类型。多配体激动剂能够与催乳素受体结合，潜在地扩展受体功能。催乳素不仅在乳腺肿瘤发生中发挥重要作用，而且在许多激素反应性癌症中发挥重要作用，如前列腺、卵巢癌和子宫内膜癌，以及胰腺癌和肺癌。尽管垂体和垂体外来源的催乳素（如上皮）很重要，但基质来源的催乳素现在也被认为是肿瘤进展的重要因素，所有这些都可能向肿瘤微环境中的多种细胞类型发出信号。虽然催乳素在产奶中具有重要作用，包括钙和骨稳态，但在疾病状态下，它也会影响骨稳态。催乳素还影响转移性乳腺癌以调节骨微环境并促进骨损伤。催乳素在哺乳动物的生理和病理环境中都有着令人着迷的贡献。尽管垂体和垂体外来源的催乳素（如上皮）很重要，但基质来源的催乳素现在也被认为是肿瘤进展的重要因素，所有这些都可能向肿瘤微环境中的多种细胞类型发出信号。虽然催乳素在产奶中具有重要作用，包括钙和骨稳态，但在疾病状态下，它也会影响骨稳态。催乳素还影响转移性乳腺癌以调节骨微环境并促进骨损伤。催乳素在哺乳动物的生理和病理环境中都有着令人着迷的贡献。尽管垂体和垂体外来源的催乳素（如上皮）很重要，但基质来源的催乳素现在也被认为是肿瘤进展的重要因素，所有这些都可能向肿瘤微环境中的多种细胞类型发出信号。虽然催乳素在产奶中具有重要作用，包括钙和骨稳态，但在疾病状态下，它也会影响骨稳态。催乳素还影响转移性乳腺癌以调节骨微环境并促进骨损伤。催乳素在哺乳动物的生理和病理环境中都有着令人着迷的贡献。虽然催乳素在产奶中具有重要作用，包括钙和骨稳态，但在疾病状态下，它也会影响骨稳态。催乳素还影响转移性乳腺癌以调节骨微环境并促进骨损伤。催乳素在哺乳动物的生理和病理环境中都有着令人着迷的贡献。虽然催乳素在产奶中具有重要作用，包括钙和骨稳态，但在疾病状态下，它也会影响骨稳态。催乳素还影响转移性乳腺癌以调节骨微环境并促进骨损伤。催乳素在哺乳动物的生理和病理环境中都有着令人着迷的贡献。