Thyrotropin induces growth and iodothyronine production in a human thyroid cell line without affecting adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate production

Using a recently described cell line derived from the fusion of human thyroid and human myeloma cells, we studied the effects of TSH on cell growth, iodide organification, and cAMP production. Although these cells grow in the absence of TSH, when incubated for 2 days in serum-free medium containing purified human or bovine TSH, there was a significant increase in cellular DNA content. The stimulatory effect was observed at concentrations as low as 0.5 microU/ml, which produced a significant increase in DNA content, and was maximal with 5 microU/ml. This effect was still present after 6 days of incubation. Electron microscopy performed by an unbiased observer on cells incubated in the presence of TSH showed an increase in the calculated size of the cells and the nucleus which was significant at 0.1 microU/ml and maximal at 1 microU/ml. Stimulation of 125I organification and hormone production was observed at TSH concentrations as low as 1 microU/ml and was maximal at 10 microU/ml. However, neither TSH (1-50 microU/ml) nor forskolin (10(-6) M) stimulated cAMP production. These data suggest that these cells lack a functional adenylate cyclase pathway and that growth and iodide organification are mediated by other second messenger systems. Such a cell line could yield new insights into the mechanisms of TSH action and may provide a sensitive bioassay for TSH and other thyrotropic factors.