PRLR

Prolactin receptor (PRLR), also known as HPRL, MFAB, and hPRLrI, is a cell surface transmembrane receptor for prolactin, an anterior pituitary hormone that is produced by the pituitary gland. PRLR belongs to the Type 1 subfamily in the type I cytokine receptor family and it contains two fibronectin type-III domains in the protein sequence. Functionally, prolactin binding induces PRLR dimerization and subsequently, activates several downstream signaling cascades such as the JAK-STAT pathway, the JAK-RUSH pathway, the Ras-Raf-MAPK pathway, and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

PRLR is actively expressed in several organs including breast, placenta, kidney, liver, and pancreas. The overexpression of PRLR is observed in breast and prostate cancer while the high expression level of PRLR is also associated with cell survival in cervical cancer cells. Several immunotherapies targeting this particular surface antigen are under development, either to block the receptor-ligand interaction or exploit ADC approaches to deliver cytotoxic agents into the PRLR-overexpressed tumor cells.

Entrez Gene ID: 5618
UniProt ID: P16471