Prolactin as a Candidate Sebotropic Hormone?

March 2018 in “ Experimental Dermatology ”

Ewan A. Langan, Eleanor Hinde, Ralf Paus

prolactin sebaceous gland keratin hair follicles sebotropic hormone acne cutaneous aging

TLDR Prolactin may influence skin glands and could be a target for treating acne and skin aging.

The document investigated prolactin (PRL) as a potential regulator of sebaceous gland (SG) function, suggesting it could be a sebotropic hormone influencing sebocyte proliferation. Preliminary evidence from a study using skin samples from three females indicated that PRL increased SG area, sebocyte proliferation, and lipid production in a PRLR-dependent manner. The study proposed that PRL might modulate SG activity through androgen metabolism, impacting conditions like seborrhea in Parkinson's disease. It suggested that targeting PRL activity with PRLR antagonists could offer new acne treatment strategies, and emphasized the need for further research to confirm PRL's role as a sebotropic factor.

View this study on onlinelibrary.wiley.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

35 / 35 results

research Adiponectin Signaling Regulates Lipid Production in Human Sebocytes

32 citations , January 2017 in “PLoS ONE”

Adiponectin boosts lipid production in skin cells, potentially helping treat skin conditions with low sebum.

research Exploring the Brain-Skin Connection: Leads and Lessons from the Hair Follicle

30 citations , October 2016 in “Current research in translational medicine”

Hair follicles on the scalp interact with and respond to the nervous system, influencing their own behavior and growth.

research Beyond Acne: Current Aspects of Sebaceous Gland Biology and Function

97 citations , September 2016 in “Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders”

The sebaceous gland has more roles than just producing sebum and contributing to acne, and new research could lead to better skin disease treatments.

research Human Hair Follicle Organ Culture: Theory, Application, and Perspectives

130 citations , August 2015 in “Experimental Dermatology”

Human hair follicle organ culture is a useful model for hair research with potential for studying hair biology and testing treatments.

research Androgens Induce Sebaceous Differentiation in Sebocyte Cells Expressing a Stable Functional Androgen Receptor

31 citations , April 2015 in “Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology/The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology”

Androgens cause oil-producing skin cells with androgen receptors to mature and produce more oil.

research The Peripheral Clock Regulates Human Pigmentation

81 citations , October 2014 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

Certain genes control the color of human hair by affecting pigment production.

research Neuroendocrinology of the Hair Follicle: Principles and Clinical Perspectives

98 citations , July 2014 in “Trends in Molecular Medicine”

Hair follicles are hormone-sensitive and involved in growth and other functions, with potential for new treatments, but more research is needed.

research A Practical Guide for the Study of Human and Murine Sebaceous Glands In Situ

56 citations , September 2013 in “Experimental Dermatology”

The guide explains how to study human and mouse sebaceous glands using various staining and imaging techniques, and emphasizes the need for standardized assessment methods.

Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha, Interferon Gamma, and Substance P Are Novel Modulators of Extrapituitary Prolactin Expression in Human Skin

research Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha, Interferon Gamma, and Substance P Are Novel Modulators of Extrapituitary Prolactin Expression in Human Skin

24 citations , April 2013 in “PLOS ONE”

TNFα, IFNγ, and Substance P significantly affect prolactin levels in human skin, suggesting new treatments for skin and hair conditions.

research Prevalence of Hyperprolactinaemia in Female Premenopausal Blood Donors

11 citations , February 2013 in “Clinical Endocrinology”

A small number of premenopausal female blood donors had high prolactin levels, often due to stress, and retesting is recommended to prevent misdiagnosis.

research Topobiology of Human Pigmentation: P-Cadherin Selectively Stimulates Hair Follicle Melanogenesis

29 citations , January 2013 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

P-cadherin is crucial for hair follicle pigmentation but not skin pigmentation.

research Utilizing the Hair Follicle to Dissect the Regulation and Autocrine/Paracrine Activities of Prolactin in Humans

12 citations , May 2012 in “Endocrinology and metabolism/American journal of physiology: endocrinology and metabolism”

Human scalp hair follicles can be used to study how prolactin affects hair growth and cell death.

research Endogenous Retinoids in the Hair Follicle and Sebaceous Gland

50 citations , September 2011 in “Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids”

Maintaining the right amount of retinoic acid is crucial for healthy hair and skin.

research Prolactin: An Emerging Force Along the Cutaneous–Endocrine Axis

51 citations , July 2010 in “Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism”

Prolactin may play a significant role in skin and hair health and could be a target for treating skin and hair disorders.

Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone and Estrogen Differentially Regulate Prolactin and Prolactin Receptor Expression in Female Human Skin and Hair Follicles In Vitro

research Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone and Estrogen Differentially Regulate Prolactin and Prolactin Receptor Expression in Female Human Skin and Hair Follicles In Vitro

37 citations , March 2010 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Oestrogen and thyrotropin-releasing hormone affect prolactin and its receptor in human skin and hair, suggesting new treatment options for related conditions.

research Prolactin: A Novel Neuroendocrine Regulator of Human Keratin Expression In Situ

64 citations , January 2010 in “The FASEB Journal”

Prolactin affects the production of different keratins in human hair, which could lead to new treatments for skin and hair disorders.

research Mind the Gender Gap: Does Prolactin Exert Gender and Site-Specific Effects on the Human Hair Follicle?

36 citations , November 2009 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Prolactin may affect hair growth differently based on gender and scalp area.

research The Skin as an Endocrine Organ

75 citations , September 2009 in “Dermato-endocrinology”

The skin produces and processes hormones, affecting both local and overall body functions.

research Hormones and the Pilosebaceous Unit

97 citations , March 2009 in “Dermato-endocrinology”

Hormones significantly affect hair and oil gland function in the skin, and more research is needed on skin-related hormone disorders.

research Prolactin and the Skin: A Dermatological Perspective on an Ancient Pleiotropic Peptide Hormone

98 citations , December 2008 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Prolactin affects hair growth and skin conditions, and could be a target for new skin disease treatments.

research Androgens and Hair Growth

209 citations , September 2008 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

Androgens can both increase and decrease hair growth in different parts of the body.

research Sexual Hormones in Human Skin

305 citations , February 2007 in “Hormone and metabolic research”

Human skin makes sexual hormones that affect hair growth, skin health, and healing; too much can cause acne and hair loss, while treatments can manage these conditions.

research Neuroimmunology of Stress: Skin Takes Center Stage

375 citations , July 2006 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Stress can worsen skin and hair conditions by affecting the skin's immune response and hormone levels.

research Diagnosis of Hyperandrogenism: Biochemical Criteria

77 citations , June 2006 in “Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism”

The document concludes that accurate measurement of serum androgens is crucial for diagnosing hyperandrogenism.

Human Scalp Hair Follicles Are Both a Target and a Source of Prolactin, Which Serves as an Autocrine and/or Paracrine Promoter of Apoptosis-Driven Hair Follicle Regression

research Human Scalp Hair Follicles Are Both a Target and a Source of Prolactin, Which Serves as an Autocrine and/or Paracrine Promoter of Apoptosis-Driven Hair Follicle Regression

128 citations , March 2006 in “American Journal of Pathology”

Prolactin contributes to hair loss by promoting hair follicle shrinkage and cell death.

research Neuroimmunoendocrine Circuitry of the Brain-Skin Connection

293 citations , November 2005 in “Trends in Immunology”

Stress can worsen skin conditions and stop hair growth by affecting the body's stress response system.

research Acne and Sebaceous Gland Function

463 citations , September 2004 in “Clinics in dermatology”

Effective acne treatments should reduce sebum, bacteria, and inflammation, with isotretinoin being the best for severe cases.

research The Human Skin as a Hormone Target and an Endocrine Gland

146 citations , January 2004 in “Hormones”

Human skin acts like a hormone-producing organ, making and managing various hormones important for skin and hair health.

research Human Pilosebaceous Culture

2 citations , November 2003 in “Humana Press eBooks”

Hair follicle cells can help heal wounds and study skin diseases.

The Distribution of Estrogen Receptor Beta Is Distinct to That of Estrogen Receptor Alpha and the Androgen Receptor in Human Skin and the Pilosebaceous Unit

research The Distribution of Estrogen Receptor Beta Is Distinct to That of Estrogen Receptor Alpha and the Androgen Receptor in Human Skin and the Pilosebaceous Unit

130 citations , June 2003 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings”

Estrogen Receptor ß (ERß) is the main hormone controller in human skin and hair follicles, not Estrogen Receptor α (ERα) or the Androgen Receptor (AR).