Repeatedly passed FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells can develop insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I-sensitive cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin E2 isomerase-like activities together with altered basal and thyrotropin-responsive thymidine incorporation into DNA

Repeatedly passed or aged rat FRTL-5 thyroid cells develop a high level of basal [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA and a reduced response to TSH in medium containing 5% serum and insulin (5H medium). The basal [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA of aged cells can exceed the TSH-induced increase in earlier passages of the same cell line (fresh cells) and the TSH response decreases from more than 10-fold above basal in fresh cells to less than 2-fold in aged cells. This change is not associated with a loss of the diploid karyotype, a change in basal cAMP levels, or a change in dependence on TSH for cell growth. Attenuation of the TSH response in the [3H]thymidine incorporation assay is more evident than the reduced effect of TSH on cAMP levels or iodide transport; moreover, the TSH effect on cAMP levels does not correlate with that on [3H] thymidine incorporation as a function of hormone concentration. The high basal activity in [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA in aged cells is due to an increased responsiveness to insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), or serum. Thus, removal of serum and insulin from the medium eliminates the high basal [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA, and this activity is restored by insulin or IGF-I in a concentration-dependent manner. The increased responsiveness of aged cells to insulin or IGF-I is inhibited by indomethacin or hydrocortisone and is associated with insulin or IGF-I, but not TSH, stimulation of cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) isomerase-like activity. Fresh cells, in contrast, require TSH plus insulin or IGF-I to increase these activities. Increased responsiveness of cyclooxygenase activity to insulin or IGF-I in aged cells reflects at least in part an increase in cyclooxygenase mRNA levels. We suggest that insulin/IGF-I stimulation of PGE2 production leads to the high basal thymidine incorporation into DNA in aged cells maintained in TSH-depleted (5H) medium; the reduced stimulation by TSH of cAMP content or iodide uptake may reflect PG inhibition (negative feedback regulation) of cAMP production.     

Inhibition of thyrotropin-induced growth of rat thyroid cells, FRTL-5, by immunoglobulin G from patients with primary myxedema

We studied thyroid growth-blocking activity in immunoglobulin G (IgG) fractions of serum from 24 patients with primary myxedema, 24 patients with goitrous Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and 18 normal subjects by measuring the ability of their IgG to inhibit TSH-induced [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA in a rat thyroid cell line, FRTL-5. Both groups of patients were receiving T4 when studied. [3H]Thymidine incorporation induced by 0.1 mU/ml bovine TSH was significantly inhibited by the addition of 2 mg/ml IgG from patients with primary myxedema (P less than 0.01), while it was not affected by IgG from the normal subjects or 23 of the 24 patients with goitrous Hashimoto's thyroiditis. IgG from patients with primary myxedema also inhibited the [3H]thymidine incorporation induced by Graves' IgG, but not that induced by forskolin, cholera toxin, (Bu)2cAMP or phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate. The inhibition of TSH-induced [3H]thymidine incorporation by IgGs from patients with primary myxedema was significantly correlated with their inhibitory activities against both TSH-induced cAMP generation and TSH binding (P less than 0.001). These data indicate that these growth-blocking antibodies are directed against the TSH receptor and might be one of the causes of the thyroid atrophy in patients with primary myxedema.     

Transforming growth factor-beta blocks protein kinase-A-mediated iodide transport and protein kinase-C-mediated DNA synthesis in FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells.

Recent studies have shown that transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) alters DNA synthesis and iodide metabolism in human, porcine, and rat thyroid cells. In the present work we studied the mechanism of TGF beta action in FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells. The cells were treated with TGF beta in the presence of TSH, growth factors, and cellular modulators for various periods of time; then, [3H]thymidine incorporation and DNA content were measured as indicators of DNA synthesis, and [125I]iodide uptake was measured to assess cell function. TGF beta (10 ng/ml) inhibited TSH-induced DNA synthesis and iodide uptake. TGF beta also inhibited DNA synthesis induced by insulin-like growth factor-I, fibroblast growth factor, and endothelial cell growth factor. The protein kinase-A (PKA) activator 8-bromo-cAMP increased both iodide uptake and DNA synthesis; TGF beta inhibited 8-bromo-cAMP-induced [125I]iodide uptake, but not [3H]thymidine incorporation. The protein kinase-C (PKC) activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate increased [3H]thymidine incorporation, and TGF beta inhibited this action of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The results show that activation of PKA or PKC increases DNA synthesis. TGF beta inhibited PKC-mediated, but not PKA-mediated, DNA synthesis in these cells. The results also show that TGF beta selectively inhibits PKA-mediated iodide uptake, but not PKA-mediated DNA synthesis. These findings suggest that TGF beta is a strong inhibitor of the proliferation and function of thyroid cells.     

Iodine suppression of iodide uptake in FRTL-5 thyroid cells

Exposure of FRTL-5 cells to iodide (I-) in excess of 3 microM suppresses the concentrative uptake of I-. The depression of I- uptake measured at the steady state is due to decrease in the rate of I- influx and not to an effect on I- efflux. Exposure to NaI is associated with decreased T4 secretion and also depressed Na+-dependent amino acid accumulation. The depression in I- and amino acid transports increases proportionately with the duration of exposure and concentration of I- used but is not associated with alterations in FRTL-5 cell cAMP levels. The I- suppression effect is blocked, however, when methimazole is present during the incubation with NaI. In agreement with studies in vivo, I- suppression in FRTL-5 cells appears to depend on an intermediate in the organification process and to be independent of a TSH-induced cAMP-mediated action.     

Effect of lithium on function and growth of thyroid cells in vitro.

Lithium has been reported to alter thyroid function and cause goiter in some patients. To explain the mechanism of lithium action in the thyroid gland, we studied the effect of lithium on thyroid function and cell growth in FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells and on de novo thyroid hormone formation in primary cultures of porcine thyroid follicles. TSH-induced iodide uptake was suppressed at 2 mM lithium in both FRTL-5 cells and porcine follicles. In porcine thyroid follicles, iodide uptake stimulated by 8-bromo-cAMP, iodine organification, and de novo thyroid hormone formation were also reduced by lithium; however, 2 mM lithium did not inhibit TSH-induced cAMP production. In FRTL-5 cells, lithium also inhibited forskolin-stimulated iodide uptake. These results suggested that lithium exerts its effect at a step involving cAMP signal transduction rather than inhibiting cAMP production. In both FRTL-5 thyroid cells and porcine follicles, lithium enhanced cell growth in basal states (lacking TSH) and with TSH treatment. In porcine thyroid cells, the protein kinase C activator, tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate, increased cell growth, and lithium had an additive effect with tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate on cell growth. To examine the possibility that the action of lithium was mediated by the protein kinase C pathway, porcine cells were incubated with lithium and H7, a selective protein kinase C inhibitor. Lithium-induced cell growth was suppressed to the basal level by H7. These results suggest that lithium exerts its growth-promoting effect through the protein kinase C system.     

Human chorionic gonadotropin stimulates iodide uptake, adenylate cyclase, and deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in cultured rat thyroid cells

hCG stimulates thyroid function, but it has been suggested that it is impurities in commercial hCG preparations or a variant of hCG that are responsible for the thyrotropic activity. In this study, we tested the thyrotropic activity of purified and commercial hCG and compared its action with that of bovine TSH (bTSH) in cultured rat FRTL-5 cells in regard to stimulation of iodide uptake, activation of adenylate cyclase, and synthesis of DNA. Iodide uptake was measured after incubation of the cells for 48-72 h with the test hormones, followed by a 40-min incubation with 0.1 microCi Na125I and 10 mumol/L carrier NaI; the 125I in the washed cells was counted. Adenylate cyclase was measured after incubation of the cells with the test stimulators for 3 h in hypotonic medium by RIA of cAMP in the medium. DNA synthesis was measured after incubation of the cells with the test substances for 24 h, followed by addition of [3H]thymidine for 3 h and then measuring the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into the cells. Both purified and commercial hCG produced a dose-related increase in iodide uptake. The relative potency of commercial hCG was 0.024 microU bTSH/U hCG and that of purified hCG was 0.042 microU bTSH/U hCG; compared with human TSH, the potency of purified hCG was 0.72 microU/U hCG. hCG caused a dose-related increment of adenylate cyclase and [3H]thymidine incorporation. The effect of hCG on iodide uptake and [3H]thymidine incorporation was additive with that of bTSH; hCG was not an antagonist of TSH in these cultured rat thyroid cells. We conclude that hCG has intrinsic thyrotropic activity in FRTL-5 cells in regard to stimulation of iodide uptake, activation of adenylate cyclase, and stimulation of DNA synthesis.     

Graves' IgG stimulation of iodide uptake in FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells: a clinical assay complementing FRTL-5 assays measuring adenylate cyclase and growth-stimulating antibodies in autoimmune thyroid disease

With optimal conditions and cells maintained in the absence of thyrotropin (TSH) for 7-10 days, IgG preparations from approximately 90% of patients with active Graves' disease can exhibit statistically significant stimulation of cAMP levels in rat FRTL-5 thyroid cells as compared to normal controls. FRTL-5 cells maintained in the absence of TSH for 7-10 days lose their ability to take up iodide. Iodide uptake returns upon readdition of TSH over a 60-hour period via a cAMP-mediated process; thus TSH can be replaced by dibutyryl cAMP or other agents which increase cAMP levels, for example, thyroid-stimulating autoantibodies (TSAbs) from Graves' sera. TSAb stimulation of iodide uptake requires the continued presence of TSAb over at least the first 24 hours of a 48-hour reversal period; TSH, in contrast, can be withdrawn after 5 hours and will still achieve maximal effects at 36-48 hours. Iodide uptake, measured as a 30-minute pulse at 48 hours, appears, however, to be faster with TSAb than TSH. With optimized conditions (cells depleted of TSH greater than 7-10 days; 3-isobytyl-1-methyl xanthine, 0.005 mM; TSAb addition for the entire 48-hour assay period; and a 30-minute pulse of 10 microM 125I-sodium iodide at 37 C), TSAb stimulation is concentration-dependent with a half-maximal activity at approximately 10-fold lower concentrations than in the cAMP stimulation assay. In a series of 24 patients with Graves' disease, IgGs with positive values in the cAMP assay were positive in the iodide uptake assay.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Phorbol myristate acetate inhibits alpha 1-adrenergically but not thyrotropin-regulated functions in FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells

The iodination of thyroglobulin and the formation of thyroid hormones are regulated by alpha 1-adrenergic agents as well as TSH in rat FRTL-5 cells. The regulatory effects of the alpha-1-adrenergic agents and TSH on both of these processes are associated with an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ and an increase in that component of iodide efflux that is representative of the movement of iodide from the thyroid cell into the follicular lumen. When FRTL-5 cells are preincubated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) for at least 3 min, the norepinephrine-stimulated changes in cytosolic Ca2+ levels and iodide efflux are inhibited. In contrast, PMA pretreatment has no effect on iodide efflux and actually enhances the changes in cytosolic Ca2+ induced by TSH. Phorbol myristate acetate pretreatment has no effect on TSH-stimulated cAMP-mediated iodide uptake in FRTL-5 cells, nor does it affect the binding parameters of the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor antagonist prazosin. These data suggest that protein kinase C is involved in a feedback mechanism regulating alpha 1-adrenergic but not TSH-induced changes associated with the iodination of thyroglobulin and the formation of thyroid hormones; and that this feedback effect occurs after the step of ligand binding but before the increase in cytosolic Ca2+ induced by the alpha 1-adrenergic agents.     

The mechanism of action of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin 1 on FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells

Previous work showed that treatment of rats with tumour necrosis factor-alpha produced a model of nonthyroid illness in which there was reduction of circulating thyroid hormones and TSH, reduced thyroid response to TSH, and reduced thyroid iodide uptake. In vitro studies showed that tumour necrosis factor-alpha binds to a specific receptor on FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells, that TSH increases the number of tumour necrosis factor-alpha receptors, and that tumour necrosis factor-alpha inhibits iodide uptake by these cells. In the present study, we obtained additional data on the effects of tumour necrosis factor-alpha on FRTL-5 cells and studied the mechanism of action of tumour necrosis factor-alpha in these cells. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha inhibited both basal and TSH-stimulated [125I]iodide uptake: tumour necrosis factor-alpha slowed the recovery of [125I]iodide trapping after the cells were exposed to TSH and augmented the loss of the [125I]iodide trapping function after the cells were deprived of TSH: tumour necrosis factor-alpha inhibited [125I]iodide trapping in a noncompetitive manner; tumour necrosis factor-alpha did not affect cell growth of FRTL-5 cells. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) also inhibited basal and TSH-stimulated [125I]iodide uptake, but it stimulated cell growth. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha and IL-1 did not affect the generation of cAMP in the presence or absence of TSH; these cytokines blocked the cAMP-induced stimulation of [125I]iodide uptake. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha did not affect [3H]arachidonic acid uptake or release by FRTL-5 cells. The inhibitors of the phospholipase A2-arachidonic acid pathway did not affect the action of tumour necrosis factor-alpha.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Iodide autoregulation of functional and morphological differentiation events in the FRTL-5 rat thyroid cell strain

The role of cyclic AMP (cAMP) attenuation in mediating the autoregulatory actions of iodide on thyroid cell iodide uptake and surface morphological responses to TSH was investigated in the rat thyroid cell strain FRTL-5. Preincubation of cells for 6 h with up to 1 mmol sodium iodide/l led to a progressive reduction in both accumulation of cAMP and iodide uptake responses to TSH. Forskolin-mediated accumulation of cAMP and iodide uptake responses were similarly reduced after preincubation with iodide, whilst the iodide accumulation response to dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP) was unaffected. The inhibitory effects of iodide on TSH or forskolin-responsive iodide accumulation were not seen if preincubation was limited to 3 h, and were also abolished by the thionamide drug methimazole (1 mmol/l). Medium containing 1 mumol iodide/l prevented the appearance of the surface microvilli and pseudopodia normally observed after re-addition of TSH or forskolin, although cytoplasmic retraction was still apparent under such conditions. In contrast, iodide was without effect on the ability of dbcAMP (1 mmol/l) to induce cytoplasmic retraction and the formation of microvilli and pseudopodia. Inclusion of 1 mmol sodium perchlorate/l together with iodide during preincubation failed to prevent or reduce the suppression by iodide of either iodide uptake or surface morphological differentiation, suggesting that both aspects of autoregulation may involve surface actions of organified iodide. These observations indicate that in FRTL-5 cells, autoregulation by iodide of both the functional and surface morphological actions of TSH principally reflects the attenuating activities of organified iodide on intracellular cAMP generation.     

Effect of lithium on deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis and iodide uptake in porcine thyroid cells in culture

We investigated the direct effect of lithium on porcine thyroid cells in culture to exclude the secondary regulatory factors. First we have studied the effect of lithium on TSH-induced iodide uptake. Significant suppression was seen at 0.1 mmol/liter, and half-maximal suppression was obtained at the pharmacological concentration reported in patient serum. The suppression was dose dependent and reversible. Besides the suppression of cAMP production stimulated by TSH, lithium also inhibited iodide uptake stimulated by forskolin or 8-bromo-cAMP. These results demonstrated that lithium inhibits TSH-induced iodide uptake not only by reducing cAMP production, but also by acting on the steps of post-cAMP production. Next, we studied the effect of lithium on DNA synthesis of the cultured porcine thyroid cells. Lithium stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation of the thyroid cells in the basal condition (0.5% fetal calf serum) as well as those stimulated by insulin-like growth factor-I (100 micrograms/liter). The minimal concentrations for the significant increase were 0.5 and 0.1 mmol/liter, respectively. These results suggest that lithium might contribute to the formation of the goiter directly at the cellular levels in patients treated with the agent.     

Independent and interactive effects of tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate on growth and differentiated functions of FRTL5 cells

In studies of regulation of the growth and differentiated function of the thyroid follicular cell, we have employed the FRTL5 cell line to evaluate both the effects of agents that activate protein kinase-C (PKC) and their interaction with other agents that influence the growth and/or function of the FRTL5 cell. The PKC activator tetradecanoyl-phorbol acetate (TPA) alone induced a time- and concentration-dependent stimulation of the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into the DNA of quiescent FRTL5 cells, an effect anteceded by an increase in the levels of the mRNAs of the proto-oncogene c-myc and associated with a stimulation of cell replication. TPA also produced a dose-dependent inhibition of the low levels of radioiodine uptake in quiescent FRTL5 cells. These effects of TPA were unaccompanied by any change in the cellular cAMP concentration. TPA also modified a variety of responses to TSH, attenuating the TSH-induced stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA, cell replication, cAMP generation, and iodine uptake. Inhibition of TSH-stimulated growth and iodine uptake by TPA could not be ascribed solely to a decrease in cAMP generation, since TPA also inhibited the increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation and iodide uptake induced by the cAMP analog (Bu)2cAMP. In contrast, the independent stimulatory effects of TPA and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on [3H]thymidine incorporation and cell replication were at least additive when the two stimulators were added together. We have previously reported that both TSH and (Bu)2cAMP amplify the enhancement of DNA synthesis and cell replication in FRTL5 cells induced by IGF-I, and that the response of DNA synthesis to IGF-I is also enhanced if cells are preincubated with either TSH or (Bu)2cAMP. Both the former amplification of mitogenesis and the latter priming effect were decreased by exposing cells to TPA concomitant with their exposure to TSH or (Bu)2cAMP. The effects of TPA were mimicked by other activators of PKC, but not by a phorbol ester that fails to activate this enzyme. In general, we conclude that in the FRTL5 cell, regulation of cell growth is extremely complex; there are at least three mitogenic pathways that are separate from but interact with one another. The first is the well known cAMP-dependent pathway, which is activated by TSH. The second is activated by IGF-I and is cAMP independent. These two pathways interact to produce a marked amplification of their individual mitogenic effects. The third pathway is that stimulated by TPA and involves activation of PKC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Effects of interleukin 1 on growth and adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate generation of the rat thyroid cell line, FRTL-5 cells.

We investigated the effects of IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, interferon-gamma and tumour necrosis factor-alpha on growth and cAMP generation of FRTL-5 cells. IL-1 produced a significant stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation into FRTL-5 cells without TSH, whereas IL-1 caused significant reductions in [3H]thymidine incorporation induced by TSH or forskolin, which is known as an adenylate cyclase activator. Intracellular cAMP generation of FRTL-5 cells was stimulated by IL-1, whereas TSH-stimulated cAMP generation was inhibited by IL-1. These effects of IL-1 was neutralized by addition of anti-IL-1 antibody. The studies suggested that IL-1 blocks the effects of TSH on proliferation and cAMP generation of FRTL-5 cells on a post-receptor site of TSH.     

The interaction of signal transduction pathways in FRTL5 thyroid follicular cells: studies with stable expression of beta 2-adrenergic receptors.

Multiple signal transduction pathways interact in FRTL5 cells to promote thyroid follicular cell differentiated function and cell proliferation. In these cells, TSH is a tissue-specific mitogen that promotes DNA synthesis primarily through activation of adenylate cyclase. To further test the role of adenylate cyclase in regulating cell growth and differentiated function we have introduced into FRTL5 the human beta 2-adrenergic receptor (BAR) complementary DNA and have studied the ability of isoproterenol, alone and in combination with insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), to stimulate cAMP accumulation, iodide transport, [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA, and cell growth. Wild-type FRTL5 were infected with a PLJ retroviral construct containing the BAR in either a sense (FRTL BAR) or antisense (FRTL RBAR) orientation, and cell populations were selected on the basis of resistance to the antibiotic geneticin. FRTL BAR expressed approximately 1.3 x 10(5) high affinity binding sites per cell for the beta 2-specific ligand, CGP-12177, while neither FRTL5 wild-type nor RBAR cells demonstrated any specific binding. FRTL BAR had significantly higher levels of intracellular cAMP, [3H]thymidine incorporation, and iodide uptake in the absence of added isoproterenol than FRTL RBAR or wild-type cells. In FRTL BAR, but not RBAR cells, isoproterenol stimulated a dose-dependent accumulation of cAMP, iodide uptake, [3H]thymidine incorporation, and cell growth. FRTL BAR and RBAR cells were equally responsive to TSH and to IGF-I. Isoproterenol enhanced the ability of IGF-I to stimulate [3H]thymidine incorporation in BAR but not RBAR cells. Isoproterenol partially inhibited the ability of TSH to stimulate cAMP generation and DNA synthesis. These studies demonstrate that activation of adenylate cyclase through the BAR introduced into FRTL5 cells by retroviral infection reproduces the range of biological effects in these cells stimulated by TSH and suggest that activation of adenylate cyclase is sufficient to stimulate thyroid differentiated function and cell growth. FRTL BAR cells will provide an interesting model system with which to study the heterologous regulation of both TSH and BARs through activation of a common signal transduction pathway, adenylate cyclase.     

Aging of FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells causes sensitivity to cytotoxicity induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

While investigating the modulation of the growth and function of the FRTL-5 rat thyroid cell line by recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha), we noticed that pronounced changes in several response parameters occurred with increasing passage number. For young cells (passage less than 20), TNF alpha by itself slightly increased [3H]thymidine incorporation and DNA content, and had a minimal effect on basal 125I uptake. When combined with TSH, TNF alpha had no influence on TSH-stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation, but significantly inhibited TSH-stimulated 125I uptake. Compared with young cells, aged cells (passage greater than 40), in contrast, developed a high sensitivity to TNF alpha. TNF alpha markedly stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA, inhibited TSH-stimulated 125I uptake per micrograms DNA, but dramatically decreased the total DNA content and cell number. TSH augmented the TNF alpha effect in aged cells, resulting in a further reduction of DNA content. Aphidicolin, a specific inhibitor of DNA polymerase-alpha which is associated with DNA replication, dramatically inhibited TNF alpha-induced [3H]thymidine incorporation in both young and aged cells; this suggested that the effect of TNF alpha on FRTL-5 cell growth is related to DNA replication, rather than DNA repair. 51Cr release from FRTL-5 cells, a measure of cytotoxicity, increased 2-fold over baseline in aged cells at a dose of 400 ng/ml TNF alpha and decreased to 70% of baseline in young cells at this same dose. The protein kinase-A (PKA) and protein kinase-C (PKC) signal transduction mechanisms of TNF alpha in aged cells (passage greater than 40) were also studied. TNF alpha increased cAMP and also increased relative PKA and PKC activity in 1-40 min. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), an activator of PKC, increased [3H]thymidine incorporation and DNA content. PMA did not affect the TNF alpha-induced increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation or its reduction of DNA content. When the cells were pretreated with a high concentration of PMA (1 microM/24 h) to down-regulate PKC, the TNF alpha dose-dependent increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation and decrease in DNA content were only slightly inhibited, suggesting that the main effects of TNF alpha are independent of PKC. We conclude that the sensitivity of FRTL-5 cells to the cytotoxic effect of TNF alpha increases with aging.