Prolactin, also calle PRL, is a protein that in humans is encodes by the PRL gene. This gene is mapped to 6p22.3. This gene encodes the anterior pituitary hormone prolactin. It may play a role in cell survival by suppressing apoptosis, and it is essential for lactation. Prolactin also acts in a cytokine-like manner and as an important regulator of the immune system. Prolactin has important cell cycle related functions as a growth-, differentiating- and anti-apoptotic factor. As a growth factor binding to cytokine like receptors it has also profound influence on hematopoiesis, angiogenesis and is involved in the regulation of blood clotting through several pathways.
