RGD Reference Report - Prolactin stimulates the proliferation of normal female cholangiocytes by differential regulation of Ca2+-dependent PKC isoforms. - Rat Genome Database

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Prolactin stimulates the proliferation of normal female cholangiocytes by differential regulation of Ca2+-dependent PKC isoforms.

Authors: Taffetani, S  Glaser, S  Francis, H  DeMorrow, S  Ueno, Y  Alvaro, D  Marucci, L  Marzioni, M  Fava, G  Venter, J  Vaculin, S  Vaculin, B  Lam, IP  Lee, VH  Gaudio, E  Carpino, G  Benedetti, A  Alpini, G 
Citation: Taffetani S, etal., BMC Physiol. 2007 Jul 19;7:6.
RGD ID: 1642567
Pubmed: PMID:17640386   (View Abstract at PubMed)
PMCID: PMC1939715   (View Article at PubMed Central)
DOI: DOI:10.1186/1472-6793-7-6   (Journal Full-text)

BACKGROUND: Prolactin promotes proliferation of several cells. Prolactin receptor exists as two isoforms: long and short, which activate different transduction pathways including the Ca2+-dependent PKC-signaling. No information exists on the role of prolactin in the regulation of the growth of female cholangiocytes. The rationale for using cholangiocytes from female rats is based on the fact that women are preferentially affected by specific cholangiopathies including primary biliary cirrhosis. We propose to evaluate the role and mechanisms of action by which prolactin regulates the growth of female cholangiocytes. RESULTS: Normal cholangiocytes express both isoforms (long and short) of prolactin receptors, whose expression increased following BDL. The administration of prolactin to normal female rats increased cholangiocyte proliferation. In purified normal female cholangiocytes, prolactin stimulated cholangiocyte proliferation, which was associated with increased [Ca2+]i levels and PKCbeta-I phosphorylation but decreased PKCalpha phosphorylation. Administration of an anti-prolactin antibody to BDL female rats decreased cholangiocyte proliferation. Normal female cholangiocytes express and secrete prolactin, which was increased in BDL rats. The data show that prolactin stimulates normal cholangiocyte growth by an autocrine mechanism involving phosphorylation of PKCbeta-I and dephosphorylation of PKCalpha. CONCLUSION: We suggest that in female rats: (i) prolactin has a trophic effect on the growth of normal cholangiocytes by phosphorylation of PKCbeta-I and dephosphorylation of PKCalpha; and (iii) cholangiocytes express and secrete prolactin, which by an autocrine mechanism participate in regulation of cholangiocyte proliferation. Prolactin may be an important therapeutic approach for the management of cholangiopathies affecting female patients.

Gene Ontology Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View

Biological Process
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
positive regulation of cell population proliferation  IMP 1642567 RGD 
response to peptide hormone  IEP 1642567 RGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Prkca  (protein kinase C, alpha)
Prl  (prolactin)


Additional Information