Growth Hormone, Prolactin and IGF-I as Lymphohemopoietic Cytokines

This monograph describes three growth and differentiation factors and their role in basic and clinical haematology and immunology: growth hormone; insulin-like growth factor 1; and prolactin. It explores how these factors are implicated in auto-immune diseases and leukaemia.

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This monograph describes three growth and differentiation factors and their role in basic and clinical haematology and immunology: growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor 1 and prolactin. Recently, the expression of all three factors has been documented in the lympho-haemopoietic system. The relative importance of endocrine, paracrine and autocrine production is discussed. In addition to their role in development and physiology, these factors are implicated in auto-immune diseases and leukaemia. Possible implications of recent findings include the use of these factors in some forms of bone-marrow aplasia and immunodeficiency. In contrast, bromocriptine (which suppresses PRL secretion) may be of value in auto-immune diseases.