Fig. 8
From: The role of MAPK11/12/13/14 (p38 MAPK) protein in dopamine agonist-resistant prolactinomas
Molecular mechanism of bromocriptine resistance in prolactinomas. Bromocriptine binds to DRD2 on the surface of prolactin cells, upregulates the expression of DRD2, downregulates the expression of MAPK11 and MAPK14, promotes cell apoptosis, and inhibits PRL secretion, thereby reversing the bromocriptine resistance of prolactinomas and restoring the sensitivity of prolactinoma to bromocriptine. The lack or low expression of DRD2, bromocriptine had no significant effect on MAPK11 and MAPK14 proteins, leading to bromocriptine resistance in prolactinomas