Mitochondrial humanin peptide acts as a cytoprotective factor in granulosa cell survival.

Humanin (HN) is a short peptide involved in many biological processes such as apoptosis, cell survival, inflammatory response, and reaction to stressors like oxidative stress, between others. In the ovary, a correct balance between pro- and anti-apoptotic factors is crucial for folliculogenesis. In the follicular atresia, survival or death of granulosa cells is a critical process.

JAK2/STAT5 Pathway Mediates Prolactin-Induced Apoptosis of Lactotropes.

Prolactinomas are increasingly viewed as a "problem of signal transduction." Consequently, the identification of factors and signaling pathways that control lactotrope cell turnover is needed in order to encourage new therapeutic developments. We have previously shown that prolactin (PRL) acts as a proapoptotic and antiproliferative factor on lactotropes, maintaining anterior pituitary cell homeostasis, which contrasts with the classical antiapoptotic and/or proliferative actions exerted by PRL in most other target tissues.