Bioassays for TSH Receptor Autoantibodies, from FRTL-5 Cells to TSH Receptor-LH/CG Receptor Chimeras: The Contribution of Leonard D. Kohn.

Since the discovery 60 years ago of the "long-acting thyroid stimulator" by Adams and Purves, great progress has been made in the detection of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor (TSHR) autoantibodies (TRAbs) in Graves' disease. Today, commercial assays are available that can detect TRAbs with high accuracy and provide diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of patients with Graves' disease. The present review focuses on the development of TRAbs bioassays, and particularly on the role that Leonard D. Kohn had in this. Indeed, 30 years ago, the Kohn group developed a bioassay based on the use of FRTL-5 cells that was characterized by high reproducibility, feasibility, and diagnostic accuracy. Using this FRTL-5 bioassay, Kohn and his colleagues were the first to develop monoclonal antibodies (moAbs) against the TSHR. Furthermore, they demonstrated the multifaceted functional nature of TRAbs in patients with Graves' disease, with the identification of stimulating and blocking TRAbs, and even antibodies that activated pathways other than cAMP. After the cloning of the TSHR, the Kohn laboratory constructed human TSHR-rat luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptor chimeras. This paved the way to a new bioassay based on the use of non-thyroid cells transfected with the Mc4 chimera. The new Mc4 bioassay is characterized by high diagnostic and prognostic accuracy, greater than for other assays. The availability of a commercial kit based on the Mc4 chimera is spreading the use of this assay worldwide, indicating its benefits for these patients with Graves' disease. This review also describes the main contributions made by other researchers in TSHR molecular biology and TRAbs assay, especially with the development of highly potent moAbs. A comparison of the diagnostic accuracies of the main TRAbs assays, as both immunoassays and bioassays, is also provided.

pKC modulates integrin expression that contributes to fibrotic changes in irradiated thyroid tissue.

AIM: We hypothesized that radiation-induced fibrosis was, in part, a result of altered signal transduction that directly modulates integrin expression and may indirectly affect the extracellular matrix (ECM). Major focus was given on protein kinase C (pKC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rat FRTL-5 and primary thyroid cells were exposed to proton radiation (5 and 10 Gy). Hours to days after exposure, a series of assays were performed. In addition, the neck region of Lewis rats was proton-irradiated to 40 Gy (5 Gy/day or 10 Gy/day). At 11 weeks after exposure, thyroid tissue was evaluated. RESULTS: Accumulation of ECM in irradiated FRTL-5 and primary thyroid cells was coincident with loss of tissue organization and follicularization at one or more doses and time points. Several pKC isoforms increased post-irradiation, which coincided with modulated integrin expression; fibronectin, laminin and collagen were also altered (p<0.05 vs. 0 Gy). Modulation of thyroid cells in culture with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)±calphostin C supported a direct role of pKC in these altered properties. Thyroid tissue from irradiated rats had significantly more fibrotic lesions and increases in several pKC isoforms, integrins and fibronectin compared to 0-Gy (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: pKC is a likely contributor to alteration of key players associated with radiation-induced fibrosis.

Hexachlorobenzene induces TGF-ß1 expression, which is a regulator of p27 and cyclin D1 modifications.

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is an organochlorine pesticide widely distributed in the environment. In this study we have demonstrated that HCB induced loss of cell viability and alterations in cell cycle regulation in FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells. Analysis of cell cycle distribution by flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that HCB induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M and at G0/G1 phase, inhibiting cell cycle progression at the G1/S phase, after 24 h and 72 h of treatment. HCB-treatment resulted in an increase in transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß1) mRNA levels, a negative regulator of cell growth in thyroid epithelial cells. Time-dependent studies showed that both cytosolic and nuclear p27 protein levels were increased by 5 µM HCB. After 24 h of treatment, total p27 in whole cells lysate was increased. Dose-dependent studies, demonstrated that HCB (0.005, 0.05, 0.5 and 5 µM) increased p27, both in the cytosol and nucleus. HCB (5 µM) induced a concomitant decrease in nuclear cyclin D1 protein levels, in a time-dependent manner. We have also demonstrated that TGF-ß1 Smad signaling is involved in HCB-induced alterations of p27 and cyclin D1 protein levels. On the other hand, ERK1/2 activation is not involved in the alteration of cell cycle regulatory proteins.

Reactive oxygen species and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 mediate hexachlorobenzene-induced cell death in FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells.

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is an organochlorine pesticide widely distributed in the environment. We have previously shown that chronic HCB exposure triggers apoptosis in rat thyroid follicular cells. This study was carried out to investigate the molecular mechanism by which the pesticide causes apoptosis in FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells exposed to HCB (0.005, 0.05, 0.5, and 5µM) for 2, 6, 8, 24, and 48h. HCB treatment lowered cell viability and induced apoptotic cell death in a dose- and time-dependent manner, as demonstrated by morphological nuclear changes and the increase of DNA fragmentation. The pesticide increased activation of caspases-3, -8, and full-length caspase-10 processing. HCB induced mitochondrial membrane depolarization, release of cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), from the mitochondria to the cytosol, and AIF nuclear translocation. Cell death was accompanied by an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Blocking of ROS production, with a radical scavenger (Trolox), resulted in inhibition of AIF nuclear translocation and returned cells survival to control levels, demonstrating that ROS are critical mediators of HCB-induced apoptosis. The pesticide increased ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 phosphorylation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. However, when FRTL-5 cells were treated with specific MAPK inhibitors, only blockade of MEK1/2 with PD98059 prevented cell loss of viability, as well as caspase-3 activation. In addition, we demonstrated that HCB-induced production of ROS has a critical role in ERK1/2 activation. These results demonstrate for the first time that HCB induces apoptosis in FRTL-5 cells, by ROS-mediated ERK1/2 activation, through caspase-dependent and -independent pathways.

Overexpression of USF Increases TGF-beta1 Protein Levels, But G1 Phase Arrest was not Induced in FRTL-5 Cells

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is a potent inhibitor of cellular growth and proliferation by G1 phase arrest or apoptosis. We investigated the association of TGF-beta1 with the anti-proliferative effect of upstream stimulatory factor (USF) in Fischer rat thyroid cell line (FRTL-5) cells. [Methyl-(3)H] thymidine uptake was measured after treatment of FRTL-5 cells with TGF-beta1 to identify its anti-proliferative effect. USF-1 and USF-2 proteins were in vitro translated, and an electrophoretic mobility shift assay was performed to identify the interaction between USF and the TGF-beta1 promoter. FRTL-5 cells were transfected with USF cDNA, and then the expression of TGF-beta1 was examined with Northern and Western blotting. The cell cycle-regulating proteins associated with TGF-beta1 were also measured. TGF-beta1 significantly inhibited [methyl-(3)H] thymidine uptake in FRTL-5 cells. Two specific binding sites for USF were found in the TGF-beta1 promoter: -1,846~-1,841 (CACATG) and -621~-616 (CATGTG). Overexpression of USF increased both the mRNA levels and protein levels of TGF-beta1. However, the expression of cyclin D1, CDK4, cyclin E, and CDK2, and the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein remained unchanged. Overexpression of USF in FRTL-5 cells increased the expression of TGF-beta10 through specific binding to TGF-beta1 promoter. However, the USF-induced expression of TGF-beta1 did not cause G1 arrest.

Effect of Estrogen on H2O2 Induced Apoptosis of FRTL-5 Cells / 대한내분비학회지

BACKGROUND: Understanding the pathways and controlling mechanisms of thyrocyte apoptosis is important for the elucidation of the pathogenesis of goiter or thyroid cancer. A system for evaluating apoptosis, in FRTL-5 cells, triggered by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a highly likely apoptogenic signal in physiologic condition, was be set up to see the effects of TSH and estrogen on H2O2-induced apoptosis. METHOD: DNA laddering was used in the optimization process or the conditions of the set-up of system for the evaluation of apoptosis in the FRTL-5 cells. To quantify the apoptosis under the optimized conditions, histone-bound DNA fragments in the cytoplasm were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: 1) The optimized conditions for induction of apoptosis in the FRTL-5 cells by H2O2 were; observation of DNA laddering 18~24 hrs after the addition of 0.3 mM H2O2 to cells maintained in TSH-free, low serum containing media (5H1 or 5H0 media) for 48 hrs. 2) Exposure of the FRTL-5 cells to TSH (1 mU/L) for more than 48 hrs (6H0 media). before the addition of H2O2 significantly decreased the degree of apoptosis, compared to cells maintained under TSH-free conditions (0.98+/-0.21 vs. 2.27 0.11 arbitrary unit, p<0.05), whereas exposure for 24 hrs. did not. 3) Exposure of the FRTL-5 cells to high dose 17- estradiol (1-100 M) significantly decreased the degree of H2O2-induced apoptosis in a dose dependent manner. The addition of serum (1%) blunted the effects of estrogen on H2O2-induced apoptosis, and TSH totally abrogated the estrogen effect.Physiologic doses of estrogen (10~100 nM) showed no suppressive effects on H2O2-induced apoptosis in FRTL-5 cells. CONCLUSION: A system for evaluating apoptosis in FRTL-5 cells triggered by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a highly likely apoptogenic signal in physiologic condition, was set up, and found for the first time that high dose estrogen suppressed the H2O2-induced apoptosis in FRTL-5 cells

Effect of Estrogen on H2O2 Induced Apoptosis of FRTL-5 Cells / 대한내분비학회지

BACKGROUND: Understanding the pathways and controlling mechanisms of thyrocyte apoptosis is important for the elucidation of the pathogenesis of goiter or thyroid cancer. A system for evaluating apoptosis, in FRTL-5 cells, triggered by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a highly likely apoptogenic signal in physiologic condition, was be set up to see the effects of TSH and estrogen on H2O2-induced apoptosis. METHOD: DNA laddering was used in the optimization process or the conditions of the set-up of system for the evaluation of apoptosis in the FRTL-5 cells. To quantify the apoptosis under the optimized conditions, histone-bound DNA fragments in the cytoplasm were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: 1) The optimized conditions for induction of apoptosis in the FRTL-5 cells by H2O2 were; observation of DNA laddering 18~24 hrs after the addition of 0.3 mM H2O2 to cells maintained in TSH-free, low serum containing media (5H1 or 5H0 media) for 48 hrs. 2) Exposure of the FRTL-5 cells to TSH (1 mU/L) for more than 48 hrs (6H0 media). before the addition of H2O2 significantly decreased the degree of apoptosis, compared to cells maintained under TSH-free conditions (0.98+/-0.21 vs. 2.27 0.11 arbitrary unit, p<0.05), whereas exposure for 24 hrs. did not. 3) Exposure of the FRTL-5 cells to high dose 17- estradiol (1-100 M) significantly decreased the degree of H2O2-induced apoptosis in a dose dependent manner. The addition of serum (1%) blunted the effects of estrogen on H2O2-induced apoptosis, and TSH totally abrogated the estrogen effect.Physiologic doses of estrogen (10~100 nM) showed no suppressive effects on H2O2-induced apoptosis in FRTL-5 cells. CONCLUSION: A system for evaluating apoptosis in FRTL-5 cells triggered by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a highly likely apoptogenic signal in physiologic condition, was set up, and found for the first time that high dose estrogen suppressed the H2O2-induced apoptosis in FRTL-5 cells

Effects of USF-1, USF-2, PTEN and Thyroid Transcription Factors on the Function and Growth in FRTL-5 Cells / 대한내분비학회지

BACKGROUND: Upstream stimulatory factors (USFs) and PTEN are known to be tumor suppressants. USFs and PAX-8 were reported to be the functional competitors in sodium iodide symporter (NIS) gene expression. We investigated the effects of USF-1, USF-2, PTEN, and thyroid-specific transcription factors (TTF-1, PAX-8) on the function and growth of thyrocytes of FRTL 5 rat thyroid cells. METHODS: Complementary DNAs of the USF-1, USF-2, PTEN, TTF-1 (homeodomain), and PAX-8 were synthesized from RNA extracted from FRTL-5using an RT-PCR kit. Each of them was transiently transfected to the FRTL-5 cells using the lipofectamine after being cloned into the pcDNA3.1 vectors. Stable cell lines, which were transfected by USF-1, PTEN, TTF-1, and PAX-8, were also obtained from the FRTL-5 cells, respectively. Extracellular cAMP concentrations were measured after 24 hours of incubation with varying concentrations of bTSH (0.1~100 mIU/mL). After, [Methyl-3H] thymidine uptake or 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) assay was performed. RESULTS: USF-1 and USF-2 significantly increased cAMP levels and decreased thymidine uptake in both transiently and stably transfected cells (p<0.01). PTEN had a tendency to increase both the cAMP levels and BrdU uptake in stable cells, but had a tendency to decrease thymidine uptake in transiently transfected cells. TTF-1 significantly increased the cAMP levels and either thymidine or BrdU uptake in both transiently and stably transfected cells (p<0.05). PAX-8 significantly increased both the cAMP levels and BrdU assay in stable cells, but in transiently transfected cells, it significantly decreased cAMP concentrations (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that both the USF-1 and USF-2 play a role in suppressing the growth of thyrocytes but at the same time, they kept the ability to produce cAMP after TSH stimulation. They had opposing effects on TTF-1 and PAX-8 in terms of the proliferation of thyrocytes

Difference of Thyroid Stimulating Antidody Activities Measured in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells Stably Transfected with Human TSH Receptor and in FRTL-5 Cells in Graves Disease and Its Clinical Correlations / 대한내분비학회지

Background : Thyroid stimulating antibodies result in the development of hyperthyroidism and goiter in Graves disease. However, thyroid stimulating antibody activities do not correlate with the clinical features in many patients with Graves disease. The purpose of this study is to address this discrepancy between thyroid stimulating antibody activities and clinical features of Graves patients. Methods: We measured thyroid stimulating antibody activities simultaneously using human TSH receptor transfected Chinese hamster(hTSHR-CHO) cells and rat thyroid(FRTL-5) cells in 57 untreated patients with Graves disease, and compared their activities with clinical features including thyroid hormone levels. Results : The detection rate of thyroid stimulating antibody measured by hTSHR-CHO cells was 90% in 57 untreated Graves patients and it was higher than that measured by FRTL-5 cells. Thyroid stimulating antibody activity by hTSHR-CHO cells was significantly correlated with that by FRTL-5 cells(r=0.5, p<0.001), however, 18 of 57(32%) patients showed marked discrepancy of thyroid stimulating antibody activity between in hTSHR-CHO and FRTL-5 systems. Thyroid stimulating antibody activity measured by hTSHR-CHO cells was significantly correlated with serum total T3, free T4 levels, and goiter size but not 99mTc-thyroid uptake. On the other hand, thyroid stimulating antibody activity measured by FRTL-5 cells was significantly correlated with goiter size and 99mTc-thyroid uptake but not thyroid hormone levels. The difference between function and goiter size with respect to thyroid stimulating antibody measurement in two cells system is, nevertheless, particularly evident in the free T4/goiter ratio in patients with high hTSHR-CHO and low FRTL-5 cell assay values. Conclusion: These findings suggest that thyroid stimulating antibodies in Graves disease are heterogeneous population in terms of responses to different origin of cells. Further, thyroid stimulating antibody activities measured by FRTL-5 cells tend to correlate better with goiter size and Tc-thyroid uptake, whereas thyroid stimulating antibody activities measured by hTSH-CHO cells correlate better with thyroid hormone levels.