Prolactin regulates IL-1 alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-4 release from mouse splenocytes stimulated with some staphylococcal and streptococcal toxins.

This study investigates changes in IL-1 alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-4 from mouse splenocytes stimulated with Staphylococcal Protein A (PA), or Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin-1 (TSST-1), or Streptococcal lysin S (SLS) after exposure to Prolactin (PRL). In the presence of PRL, IL-1 alpha and IFN-gamma induction by PA-stimulated splenocytes was reduced by 74% and 25% respectively. On the other hand, IL-4 release was enormously increased. The ability of TSST-1 to induce IFN-gamma release was decreased by 32% after PRL. IL-1 alpha and IL-4 was unchanged compared to controls. In the presence of PRL, IFN-gamma release from splenocytes stimulated with SLS, was increased by 60%, while no changes were shown in IL-1 alpha and IL-4 release.