Mutant prolactin receptor and familial hyperprolactinemia

N Engl J Med. 2013 Nov 21;369(21):2012-2020. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1307557. Epub 2013 Nov 6.

Abstract

Hyperprolactinemia that is not associated with gestation or the puerperium is usually due to tumors in the anterior pituitary gland and occurs occasionally in hereditary multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes. Here, we report data from three sisters with hyperprolactinemia, two of whom presented with oligomenorrhea and one with infertility. These symptoms were not associated with pituitary tumors or multiple endocrine neoplasia but were due to a heterozygous mutation in the prolactin receptor gene, PRLR, resulting in an amino acid change from histidine to arginine at codon 188 (His188Arg). This substitution disrupted the high-affinity ligand-binding interface of the prolactin receptor, resulting in a loss of downstream signaling by Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5). Thus, the familial hyperprolactinemia appears to be due to a germline, loss-of-function mutation in PRLR, resulting in prolactin insensitivity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Germ-Line Mutation*
  • Humans
  • Hyperprolactinemia / genetics*
  • Janus Kinase 2 / metabolism
  • Male
  • Pedigree
  • Protein Conformation
  • Receptors, Prolactin / chemistry
  • Receptors, Prolactin / genetics*
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor / physiology
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Signal Transduction / physiology

Substances

  • Receptors, Prolactin
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor
  • Janus Kinase 2