Regulation of blood vessels by prolactin and vasoinhibins

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2015:846:83-95. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-12114-7_4.

Abstract

Prolactin (PRL) stimulates the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) either directly through actions on endothelial cells or indirectly by upregulating proangiogenic factors like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Moreover, PRL acquires antiangiogenic properties after undergoing proteolytic cleavage to vasoinhibins, a family of PRL fragments (including 16 kDa PRL) with potent antiangiogenic, vasoconstrictive, and antivasopermeability effects. In view of the opposing actions of PRL and vasoinhibins, the regulation of the proteases responsible for specific PRL cleavage represents an efficient mechanism for controlling blood vessel growth and function. This review briefly describes the vascular actions of PRL and vasoinhibins, and addresses how their interplay could help drive biological effects of PRL in the context of health and disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Blood Vessels / drug effects*
  • Blood Vessels / physiology
  • Corpus Luteum / blood supply
  • Corpus Luteum / drug effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mammary Glands, Human / blood supply
  • Mammary Glands, Human / drug effects
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology
  • Prolactin / pharmacology*
  • Retina / drug effects
  • Retinal Vessels / drug effects

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Prolactin