Polymorphism of prolactin secreted by human prolactinoma cells: immunological, receptor binding, and biological properties of the glycosylated and nonglycosylated forms.

Multiple forms of PRL differing in their physicochemical and biological characteristics have been described. We have analyzed the molecular forms of human (h) PRL released in culture by pure hPRL-secreting tumors with a particular attention to glycosylated hPRL. The prolactinoma cells from six different tumors released, in serum-free conditions, 10-28 mg hPRL. The combination of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting techniques using a [125I]anti-hPRL monoclonal antibody allowed qualitative and quantitative analysis of the hPRL variants. The ratio of the glycosylated 25,000-mol wt form (G-hPRL) to the 23,000-mol wt nonglycosylated monomeric hPRL (NG-hPRL) varied from 0.13 to 0.25. Under the conditions of our studies, cleaved forms of the hormone (19,000 and 15,000 mol wt) accounted for less than 5% of the total immunoreactivity. G- and NG-hPRL were subsequently purified by gel filtration and lectin affinity chromatography. G-hPRL appeared fully sensitive to endoglycosidase F digestion, further supporting the presence of a freely accessible N-linked carbohydrate chain. When assayed for their ability to react with polyclonal antibodies directed against hPRL in a competitive RIA, G-hPRL was 3 times less immunoreactive than NG-hPRL. However, both types of hPRL exhibited superimposable displacement curves when tested in an immunoassay using an anti-hPRL monoclonal antibody. In binding studies using crude rabbit mammary gland membranes G-hPRL was half as potent as NG-hPRL. In stimulating the growth of the Nb2 lymphoma cell line, G-hPRL was 50% less active than NG-hPRL. Thus 1) under basal conditions, hPRL undergoes partial and variable glycosylation; 2) glycosylation of the hormone may modulate its immunoreactivity; 3) glycosylation of hPRL not only lowers its mammary gland receptor binding capacity but also its growth-promoting activity.