High levels of macrophage inflammatory protein-1α correlate with prolactin in female patients with active rheumatoid arthritis

The relationship between the endocrine immune modulator prolactin and the macrophage activation parameter MIP-1α (macrophage inflammatory protein-1α) was investigated in 61 females with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The chemokine MIP-1α was found to be twice as high in active than in inactive RA. Parallel to the inflammatory activity (acute phase response and joint count) and high levels of MIP-1α there were markable changes of serum prolactin. MIP-1α seems to have an influence on the pituitary hormone secretion. A significant correletion between prolactin and MIP-1α (r=0.67;p≤0.00001) point out the bidirectional influence of the immune and endocrine system in RA.