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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 1995; 103(4): 252-255
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1211358
Original

© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Identification of macroprolactin in a patient with asymptomatic hyperprolactinemia as a stable PRL-IgG complex

A. Bonhoff1 , J.-C. Vuille2 , F. Gomez2 , B. Gellersen1
  • 1Institute for Hormone and Fertility Research, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
  • 2Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Division d'Endocrinologie et Métabolisme, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Publication History

Publication Date:
15 July 2009 (online)

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Summary

We characterize the molecular form of PRL in a female patient with asymptomatic, idiopathic hyperprolactinemia. Size exclusion chromatography revealed that PRL was present exclusively in the form of macroprolactin (>200 kD mol wt). By immmunoaffinity purification, Western blot analysis, and binding studies the molecule was identified as a PRL-IgG complex of extremely high stability. Sequence analysis revealed no mutations in the protein coding region of the hPRL gene using hPRL cDNA amplified from the patient's peripheral blood lymphocytes. In spite of full bioactivity in vitro, as determined by Nb2 bioassay, the complex apparently lacks bioactivity in vivo. Its high molecular weight may reduce its access to target organs in the periphery as well as centrally.

Key words

Macroprolactin - PRL-IgG complex - hyperprolactinemia