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

April 2013 in “ PLOS ONE ”

Ewan A. Langan, Silvia Vidali, Natascha Pigat, Wolfgang Funk, Erika Lorenzetto, Tamás Bı́ró, Vincent Goffin, C.E.M. Griffiths, Ralf Paus

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

A study conducted in 2013 investigated the role of Tumour Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNFα), Interferon Gamma (IFNγ), and Substance P in modulating the expression of prolactin (PRL) and its receptor (PRLR) in human skin and hair follicles. The research was conducted on skin samples from females aged 28-63 years. The study found that these substances significantly influenced PRL and PRLR expression. Specifically, Substance P decreased PRL in female human epidermis, IFNγ increased PRL in the epithelium of human hair follicles, and TNFα decreased both PRL and PRLR. The study concluded that intracutaneous PRL expression is not under dopaminergic control. These findings suggest a potential role of these substances in skin and hair diseases, and point towards new therapeutic options for inflammatory dermatoses.

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