Inhibitory effect of IL-1 on the TSH dependent growth of rat thyroid cells (FRTL-5)

Using a functioning rat thyroid cell line (FRTL-5), we examined the effects of some cytokines, particularly interleukin-1 (IL-1) on the growth of thyroid cells. In 5H medium, namely Coon's modified Ham's F-12 medium supplemented with 5% calf serum and a five-hormone preparation consisting of insulin, hydrocortisone, transferrin, glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine acetate and somatostatin, IL-1 enhanced the growth of FRTL-5 cells detected by [3H]TdR incorporation. However, in 6H medium (5H medium plus bovine TSH), IL-1 inhibited the growth of FRTL-5 cells. Both effects were neutralized by the addition of anti-IL-1 antibody. Furthermore, IL-1 inhibited the growth of FRTL-5 cells induced by forskolin which is known as an adenylate cyclase activator. FRTL-5 cells have specific IL-1 receptors detected by the binding of 125I-labeled IL-1 alpha. By Scatchard plot analysis, the numbers and the dissociation constants of IL-1 receptors on FRTL-5 cells were shown to be 5225/cell and 8.69 x 10(-10) M. Interleukin-2, interleukin-6 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) had no significant effects on the cell growth in 6H medium, while IFN-gamma and insulin-like growth factor I stimulated cell growth somewhat in 5H medium. These results suggest that IL-1 plays a regulatory role in the growth of thyroid cells through binding to the IL-1 receptors.     

TSH is able to induce cell cycle-related gene expression in rat thyroid cell.

Rat thyroid cells in culture (FRTL-5 strain) require thyrotropic hormone (TSH) for growth. TSH alone in serum free medium is able to induce DNA synthesis of FRTL-5 cells. DNA synthesis occurs 18-20 hours following TSH stimulation of quiescent cells. Here we demonstrate that two sets of genes, related to the entry of cells in the S phase, are induced by TSH: 1) immediate early genes, such as c-jun and a gene coding for a zinc-finger protein Xrox 20/Egr2, both having a pattern of expression similar to the c-fos oncogene; 2) early delayed genes such as ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), 2F-1, a gene that shows a strong similarity in aminoacid sequence to a mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier, and the asparagine synthetase gene (TS11). Furthermore, an increased expression of the histone H3 gene, a typical marker of S phase, has been observed in TSH-treated FRTL-5 cells.     

Role of peroxiredoxins in regulating intracellular hydrogen peroxide and hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in thyroid cells

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) play an important role in regulating cellular differentiation and proliferation in several types of mammalian cells. One mechanism for this action involves modulation of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-mediated cellular responses. This report examines the expression of Prx I and Prx II in thyroid cells and their roles in eliminating H(2)O(2) produced in response to thyrotropin (TSH). Prx I and Prx II are constitutively expressed in FRTL-5 thyroid cells. Prx I expression, but not Prx II expression, is stimulated by exposure to TSH and H(2)O(2). In addition, methimazole induces a high level of Prx I mRNA and protein in these cells. Overexpression of Prx I and Prx II enhances the elimination of H(2)O(2) produced by TSH in FRTL-5 cells. Treatment with 500 micrometer H(2)O(2) causes apoptosis in FRTL-5 cells as evidenced by standard assays of apoptosis (i.e. terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling, BAX expression, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Overexpression of Prx I and Prx II reduces the amount of H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis measured by these assays. These results suggest that Prx I and Prx II are involved in the removal of H(2)O(2) in thyroid cells and can protect these cells from undergoing apoptosis. These proteins are likely to be involved in the normal physiological response to TSH-induced production of H(2)O(2) in thyroid cells.     

Heregulin-dependent autocrine loop regulates growth of K-ras but not erbB-2 transformed rat thyroid epithelial cells

The EGF-like family of proteins, such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor α (TGFα), amphiregulin (AR), betacellulin (BTC), cripto-1 (CR-1), and heregulin (HRG), plays an important role in the pathogenesis of several human carcinomas as autocrine growth factors. Differentiation and proliferation of rat thyroid cells in culture (FRTL-5 cells) are regulated by thyrotropin (TSH); withdrawal of TSH from culture medium produces growth arrest, whereas its addition to quiescent cells stimulates cell entry into S phase. Instead, transformed thyroid cell lines as FRTL-5H2 cell line, overexpressing erbB-2, Kimol cells, transformed by the wild-type K-ras and A6 clone, transformed by a temperature sensitive K-ras mutant, can grow without addition of TSH to the culture medium. In order to identify whether EGF-like growth factors and corresponding receptors (erbB-2, erbB-3, and erbB-4) could be involved in the autonomous growth of these transformed rat thyroid epithelial cells, Northern blot for mRNA analysis and Western blot for protein expression were performed. In contrast to normal control FRTL-5 cells, both K-ras and erbB-2-transformed cells expressed elevated levels of erbB-2 receptor. Moreover, both K-ras transformed cells, Kimol and A6 cells, but no FRTL-5H2 cells, were found able to express also high levels of erbB-4 receptor and HRG/NDF ligand. Treatment of K-ras transformed thyroid cells with neutralizing antibody against HRG/NDF reduced by 50% cell proliferation. These data indicate that unlike the erbB-2 overexpressing FRTL-5 cells, in K-ras rat thyroid epithelial cells, the growth factor heregulin signals through the heterodimer erbB-2/erbB-4 receptors in an autocrine fashion. J. Cell. Physiol. 176:383–391, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Regulation of proliferation by the cholera toxin B subunit in FRTL-5 cells may involve a mechanism independent from the modulation of membrane receptor function

In quiescent rat thyroid (FRTL-5) cells, the B subunit of cholera toxin, which binds to cell surface ganglioside GM1 specifically, alone induced DNA synthesis and markedly enhanced that induced by insulin in serum-free medium. On the other hand, the B subunit inhibited DNA synthesis induced by thyrotropin (TSH). The B subunit did not activate adenylate cyclase and had no effect on the TSH-induced cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) production. Moreover, the B subunit inhibited DNA synthesis induced by dibutyryl cAMP (Bt2cAMP) or phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA). These data demonstrate that the B subunit has both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on DNA synthesis in FRTL-5 cells depending on the presence of other growth factors and that these effects on cell proliferation by the interaction of the B subunit, possibly with cell surface ganglioside GM1, may involve a mechanism independent from the modulation of membrane receptor function through interaction with growth factor receptor.     

Somatostatin interferes with thyrotropin-induced G1-S transition mediated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Involvement of RhoA and cyclin E x cyclin-dependent kinase 2 complexes

cAMP-mediated cell proliferation is a complex process that involves multiple pathways. Using a cAMP-dependent cell system, FRTL-5 thyroid cells, we have previously demonstrated the existence of a precise autocrine loop in the control of cell proliferation that involves the positive effector thyrotropin (TSH) and the general inhibitor somatostatin. In search of the regulatory mechanisms responsible for the TSH and somatostatin control of cell proliferation, we analyzed the cell cycle regulatory proteins and the cellular pathways involved in the action of both signals. The results show that specific inhibition of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase blocks independently TSH-induced FRTL-5 cell proliferation and that somatostatin interferes with both signals. Each pathway activates different proteins required for G(1)/S progression. Thus, PKA is responsible for the TSH-induction of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase mRNA levels, RhoA activation, and down-regulation of p27(kip1). These correlated events are necessary for FRTL-5 cell proliferation after TSH stimulation. Moreover, TSH through PKA pathway increases cyclin-dependent kinase 2 levels, whereas PI 3-kinase signaling increases cyclin E levels. Together, both pathways finally converge, increasing the formation and activation of cyclin E x cyclin-dependent kinase 2 complexes and the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein, two important steps in the transition from G(1) to S phase in growth-stimulated cells. Somatostatin exerts its antiproliferative effect inhibiting more upstream the TSH stimulation of PKA and PI 3-kinase, interfering with the TSH-mediated increases of intracellular cAMP levels by inactivation of adenylyl cyclase activity. Together, these results suggest the existence of a PKA-dependent pathway and a new PKA-independent PI 3-kinase pathway in the TSH/cAMP-mediated proliferation of FRTL-5 thyroid cells.     

Effect of iodine on early stage thyroid autonomy

Thyroid autonomy is a frequent cause of thyrotoxicosis in regions with iodine deficiency. Epidemiological data suggest that iodide may influence the course of pre-existing thyroid autonomy. Making use of FRTL-5 cells stably expressing a constitutively activating TSH receptor mutation as an in vitro model of thyroid autonomy, we investigated the impact of iodide on proliferation, function and changes in global gene expression. We demonstrate that iodine inhibits growth in TSHR WT and L629F mutant FRTL-5 cells and downregulates e.g. protocadherin cluster (Pcdha1-13) and thyroid responsive element (Thrsp). In addition functional genes e.g. iodotyrosine deiodinase (iyd) and oncogen junB are upregulated, while sodium-iodide-symporter (Nis) and thyroid peroxidase (Tpo) are downregulated by iodide. Iodide tunes down the biological activity of autonomous thyrocytes and may thus be of therapeutic benefit not only to prevent the occurrence of somatic TSHR mutations, causing thyroid autonomy, but also to slow down the development of clinically relevant disease.     

Astereological analysis of FRTL-5 cells as an effect of thyrotropin and irradiation

FRTL-5 cell line is a cloned epithelial follicular cell line from Fischer rat thyroids. This cell line expresses many of the thyroid differentiated markers in vitro. Their growth and function depend on thyrotropin (TSH) as the main regulatory hormone. In this astereological analysis, the authors concentrate on FRTL-5 nuclei as the most vulnerable part of the cell. Using morphometrical variables, they wished to discover the morphologically identifiable sign of transformation of FRTL-5 cells after irradiation and to study the effect of different TSH concentrations. FRTL-5 cells were grown in a medium of 4 different concentrations of TSH (0, 0.1, 1, 10 mU/ml) and irradiated with 0 Gy, 2 Gy, and 4 Gy. The results showed that the nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio decreases after irradiation with doses of 4 Gy or if TSH was included in the medium. The nuclear maximum diameter of FRTL-5 cells increased with higher concentrations of TSH more obviously after irradiation with 4 Gy than with 2 Gy. On the basis of astereological analysis, it was concluded that different concentrations of TSH and irradiation exert an effect especially upon FRTL-5 cell nuclei. The possible transformation of FRTL-5 cells after culturing in TSH medium and after irradiation could be confirmed by injection into an animal of the Fischer strain.     

Human chorionic gonadotropin promotes thyroid growth via thyrotropin receptors in FRTL-5 cells

To ascertain the presence of thyroid growth-promoting activity (TGA) in the sera of pregnant women, we measured TGA in the sera of pregnant women by means of a bioassay based on [3H]-thymidine [( 3H]Tdr) incorporation in cultured rat FRTL-5 thyroid cells. Furthermore, to elucidate the mechanisms of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in promoting the thyroid growth, we evaluated the effects of blocking type TSH receptor antibody (blocking IgGs) from patients with primary hypothyroidism on the activity of hCG. After the PEG-pretreated serum or the serum plus blocking IgGs was incubated for 72 h at 37 degrees C with FRTL-5 cells and [3H] Tdr, [3H] Tdr incorporated in the cells was counted. Although 9 normal pregnant women had normal TGA, two patients with hydatidiform mole, whose hCG levels were 966,500 and 497,100 IU/L, had positive TGA, but the activity showed normal when analyzed with the addition of a blocking IgG. hCG also showed a dose-dependent increase in [3H]Tdr incorporation, and it was inhibited by the addition of blocking IgGs. Furthermore, the inhibition of hCG-induced [3H]Tdr incorporation by 16 blocking IgGs correlated with their TBII and the inhibition activity of hCG-induced cAMP accumulation. Analysis by the Lineweaver-Burk plots of dose response curves of TSH- and hCG-induced [3H]Tdr incorporation showed the same inhibition pattern as with the addition of the same blocking IgGs. In conclusion, 1) hCG-related TGA exists in the sera of some patients with hydatidiform mole; and 2) hCG and the sera of some patients with hydatidiform mole promote thyroid growth, at least in a part, via TSH-receptors in FRTL-5 cells.     

Differential effects of growth factors on [3H]thymidine incorporation and [125I]iodine uptake in FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells

We studied the effect of several growth factors on DNA synthesis and function of FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells by simultaneous measurement of [3H]thymidine incorporation and [125I]iodide uptake. Endothelial cell growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, and insulin-like growth factor I stimulated thymidine incorporation in a dose-dependent manner without the parallel increase of [125I]iodide uptake. These growth factors had an additive effect with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) on thymidine incorporation, but they inhibited TSH-stimulated iodide uptake. Bombesin stimulated thymidine incorporation and inhibited TSH-stimulated iodide uptake; epidermal growth factor and gastrin-releasing peptide 10 had neither effect. None of the growth factors studied affected iodide uptake in the absence of TSH. Of the growth factors tested, endothelial cell growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, insulin-like growth factor bombesin, and platelet-derived growth factor all share similar differential effects on FRTL-5 cells: stimulation of DNA synthesis, potentiation of the effects of TSH on DNA synthesis, and attenuation of the effects of TSH on cell function. The data suggest that these growth factors may play important roles in regulation of thyroid function.     

Regulation by sphingolipids of the fate of FRTL-5 cells

Sphingolipids, including ceramide (Cer), sphingosine (Sph), and sphingosine 1-phosphate (Sph-1-P) have recently emerged as signal-transducing molecules. Functionally, a distinguishing characteristic of these lipids is their apparent participation in pro- or anti-proliferative cell regulation pathways. In this study, we examined the involvement of sphingolipids in the fate of FRTL-5 thyroid follicular cells. We first examined the effects of sphingolipids on FRTL-5 cell viability. Sph and Cer induced apoptosis, as revealed by fluorescence microscopy of TUNEL-positive fragmented nuclei and 180-300 bp DNA fragmentation on agarose gel electrophoresis while Sph-1-P was confirmed to prevent FRTL-5 cell apoptosis induced by deprivation of serum and TSH, possibly via cell surface receptors. We then analysed the metabolism of radiolabelled Sph and C(6)-Cer (a synthetic cell-permeable Cer) in FRTL-5 cells by thin layer chromatography, followed by autoradiography. Sph was mainly metabolized to Cer, and then to sphingomyelin, while Sph conversion into Sph-1-P was hardly detected. These changes were not affected by stimulation of the cells with TSH. Our results indicate the involvement of sphingolipid mediators in the fate of FRTL-5 thyroid cells.     

The tissue-specific pathways regulating cell proliferation are inherited independently in somatic hybrid between thyroid and liver cells

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and insulin-like growth factors type 1 (IGF-I) regulate the proliferation and differentiation of cultured thyroid cells but not of cultured liver cells. We have examined the influence of TSH and IGF-I on the metabolic functions and proliferation of somatic hybrids obtained by fusing rat thyroid cells (FRTL5) with rat liver cells (BRL). While IGF-I is able to stimulate the proliferation of the hybrid cells (TxL) TSH fails to induce their growth. However, the hybrid TxL cells have surface TSH receptors with normal ligand characteristics. The addition of TSH to TxL cells led to typical enhancement of cAMP production and depolymerization of actin filaments. Yet, TSH failed to stimulate iodine uptake in the hybrid cells. Interestingly, iodine inhibited TxL proliferation induced by IGF- I but not by serum. It is concluded that the hybrid TxL cells inherited from the parental thyroid cells several important differentiated traits including mitogenic pathways induced and used by IGF-I, functional TSH receptors, and sensitivity to the inhibitory action of iodine.     

Regulation of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase in the proliferation of rat FRTL-5 cells: involvement of both cAMP-PKA and PI3-AKT pathways

We have reported that geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP), one of the isoprenoids in the mevalonate pathway, plays an essential role for cell growth through the geranylgeranylation of Rho small GTPases, which control the degradation of P27Kip1 at G1/S transition in rat thyroid FRTL-5 cells. Since GGPP is synthesized from isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) by GGPP synthase, we analyzed the regulatory roles of GGPP synthase in the proliferation of FRTL-5 cells stimulated by thyrotropin and insulin in the presence of 5% calf serum (TSH+Ins). We found that: (1) GGPP synthase was activated at G1/S transition with increasing mRNA accumulation followed by protein expression, (2) pravastatin, an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, did not suppress the increasing activity of GGPP synthase with its protein expression although it inhibits proliferation in growth-stimulated FRTL-5 cells, (3) forskolin stimulated proliferation with activation of GGPP synthase in FRTL-5 cells, and (4) LY294002, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, inhibited proliferation with the decreasing activity of GGPP synthase in growth-stimulated FRTL-5 cells. These data indicated that growth stimulation by TSH+Ins increased the activity of GGPP synthase with its increasing protein expression from G1/S transition, in which both cAMP-PKA and PI3-kinase pathways are involved in the proliferation of FRTL-5 cells.     

The growth and morphology of FRTL-5 thyroid epithelial cells grown as multicellular spheroids in vitro

Summary FRTL-5 cells, a diploid line of differentiated rat thyroid epithelial cells, have been grown as multicellular spheroids in spinner culture. Spheroids were initiated by seeding FRTL-5 cells either into Lab-Tek dishes or culture flasks with a 0.5% agar base. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH, >1.0 mU/ml) was required for initial cell aggregation and spheroid growth. After 1 wk cellular aggregates were transferred to suspension culture in spinner flasks. As with FRTL-5 monolayer cultures, continued spheroid growth required the addition of TSH to the culture medium. The most unique characteristic of the FRTL-5 spheroids was the development of central lumina similar to thyroid follicles in vivo. Follicular structures were absent from spheroids not stimulated with TSH. In the presence of TSH epithelial cells seem metabolically active with morphological evidence of biosynthesis of thyroglobulin-like material and basal laminar-like components. In contrast, all evidence of cellular metabolic activity is absent from cells in spheroids maintained in the absence of TSH. Thus, nontransformed FRTL-5 cells grown as three-dimensional multicellular spheroids responded to hormonal manipulation in a manner comparable to follicular epithelial cells in vivo. This spheroid model might therefore prove to be a very effective tool for investigating aspects of thyroid physiology and pathology in vitro. This work was supported by Grant CA-11198 and CA-20329 awarded by the National Institutes of Health, and a Biomedical Research Support Grant awarded to R. T. Mulcahy.     

Differential utilization of cyclin D1 and cyclin D3 in the distinct mitogenic stimulations by growth factors and TSH of human thyrocytes in primary culture

Two distinct mitogenic modes coexist in thyroid epithelial cells. TSH via cAMP induces proliferation and differentiation expression, whereas growth factors including epidermal growth factor (EGF) induce proliferation and dedifferentiation. Divergent models of TSH/cAMP-dependent mitogenesis have emerged from different thyroid cell culture systems. In the FRTL-5 rat cell line, cAMP cross-signals with transduction pathways of growth factors to induce cyclin D1 and p21(cip1) and down-regulate p27(kip1). By contrast, in canine primary cultures, mitogenic pathways of cAMP and growth factors are fully distinct. cAMP does not induce D-type cyclins and p21, it up-regulates p27, and it stimulates the formation and activity of cyclin D3-cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4 complexes. In primary cultures of normal human thyrocytes, EGF + serum increased cyclin D1 and p21 accumulation, and it stimulated the assembly and activity of cyclin D1-CDK4-p21 complexes. By contrast, TSH repressed or did not induce cyclin D1 and p21, and it rather up-regulated p27. TSH did not increase cyclin D1-CDK4 activity, but it stimulated the activating phosphorylation of CDK4 and the pRb-kinase activity of preexisting cyclin D3-CDK4 complexes. As recently demonstrated in dog thyrocytes and other systems, cyclin D1 and cyclin D3 differently oriented the site specificity of CDK4 pRb-kinase activity, which might differently impact some pRb functions. Cyclin D1 or cyclin D3 are thus differentially used in the distinct mitogenic stimulations by growth factors or TSH, and potentially in hyperproliferative diseases generated by the overactivation of their respective signaling pathways. At variance with dog thyroid primary cultures, rat thyroid cell lines might not be valid models of TSH-dependent mitogenesis of human thyrocytes.     

Morphometry of the FRTL-5 cells after irradiation

The morphological changes of in vitro irradiated FRTL-5 cells and their ability to grow in semi-solid medium were studied morphometrically. FRTL-5 cells were grown in medium with 4 different concentrations of TSH (0, 0.1, 1, 10 mU/ml). After irradiation with 0 Gy, 2 Gy and 4 Gy, the cells were seeded on glass cover-slips and in methocel. Fourteen days after irradiation, the morphometric analysis of FRTL-5 cells and their nuclei was performed. The results showed that irradiation and different doses of TSH have influence on FRTL-5 cell size, more on their nuclei than on the cells as a whole. Growing of FRTL-5 cells in the methocel indicates the possible transformation of these cells after long-culturing in the TSH medium and after irradiation.