Nowadays, more than 80 autoimmune disorders are recognized, in which an aberrant immune response against different organs and tissues plays a crucial role. Hormonal homeostasis has great influence in achieving competent and healthy immune system function. Prolactin has a bioactive function acting as a hormone and a cytokine. It influences the immune system modulation, mainly inhibiting the negative selection of autoreactive B lymphocytes. Hyperprolactinemia has been detected in many patients with different autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren syndrome, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune thyroid disease, systemic sclerosis, among others, and its believed to play a crucial role in disease pathogenesis. A direct correlation between prolactin levels and disease activity was not clear. Genetic factors may have a role in humans as in animal models. Dopamine agonists have proven to offer clinical benefits among autoimmune patients and represent a promising therapy to be explored. In this review, the authors attempt to provide a critical overview on the role of prolactin in the immune system, exploring its contribution to the development of autoimmune diseases.

中文翻译：

---

催乳素和自身免疫：激素作为一种炎症细胞因子。

如今，已识别出80多种自身免疫性疾病，其中针对不同器官和组织的异常免疫反应起着至关重要的作用。激素稳态对实现有效和健康的免疫系统功能有很大的影响。催乳素具有充当激素和细胞因子的生物活性功能。它影响免疫系统调节，主要抑制自身反应性B淋巴细胞的阴性选择。在许多患有不同的自身免疫性疾病的患者中发现了高泌乳素血症，例如类风湿性关节炎，系统性红斑狼疮，干燥综合征，多发性硬化症，自身免疫性甲状腺疾病，全身性硬化症等，据信其在疾病发病机理中起着至关重要的作用。催乳素水平与疾病活动之间的直接相关性尚不清楚。遗传因素可能像动物模型一样在人类中起作用。多巴胺激动剂已被证明可在自身免疫性疾病患者中提供临床益处，并且代表了有待探索的有前途的治疗方法。在这篇综述中，作者试图提供关于催乳素在免疫系统中的作用的重要综述，探索其在自身免疫疾病发展中的作用。