Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate modulates thyrotropin receptor clustering and thyrotropin activity in culture

Response to thyrotropin of normal thyroid follicular cell strain FRTL5 in hypergravity

Thyroid hormones control every cell in the organisms and, as indicated by many hormonal changes in astronauts during and shortly after space missions, its complex regulation may be influenced by gravity. To test in vitro the effects of gravity environment on thyroid, we selected a unique cultured cell system: the FRTL5, a normal follicular thyroid cell strain in continuous culture, originally derived from adult rat thyroids. To establish if modifications of the gravitational environment may interfere with post-receptorial signal transduction mechanisms in normal mammalian cultured cells, following our previous microgravity experiments, we exposed thyrotropin-stimulated and unstimulated FRTL5 cells to hypergravity (5 g and 9 g) in a special low-speed centrifuge. At all thyrotropin doses tested, we found significant increases in terms of cyclic AMP production in FRTL5 thyroid cells. The data here reported correlate well with our previous microgravity data, showing that the FRTL5 cells functionally respond to the variable gravity force in a dose-dependent manner in terms of cAMP production following TSH-stimulation.

Response to hypogravity of normal in vitro cultured follicular cells from thyroid

Aim of this investigation is the study of molecular modifications occurring in differentiated mammalian cells exposed to gravitational changes. The test system chosen is a well characterized clone of differentiated, normal thyroid follicular cells (FRTL5) in long-term culture. As a follow-up to our recent experiment performed during the MASER-7 sounding rocket mission, flown for European Space Agency by Swedish Space Corporation in May 1996, we evaluated FRTL5 cells responses to Thyroid Stimulating Hormone dependent cAMP production under acute hypogravity conditions obtained in a fast rotating clinostat. Following this approach, we evaluated the FRTL5 cells response to TSH under microgravity conditions in order to optimize experimental tools and strategies in preparation to, and in between real flight missions.

Desensitization of cyclic adenosine 3,5'-monophosphate response to thyrotropin in normal and primary or metastatic papillary thyroid cancer cells in vitro

BACKGROUND

Desensitization is an important physiologic process resulting in a decreased functional response after continuous or repeated stimulation. Prior exposure of normal human thyroid tissue to thyrotropin either in vivo or in vitro causes desensitization of adenylate cyclase. Little is known, however, about whether the thyrotropin-adenylate cyclase-cyclic adenosine 3,5'-monophosphate (cAMP) signal transduction system desensitizes in human thyroid carcinomas. Failure to desensitize could result in increased growth or metastases.

METHODS

Cell cultures from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with normal human thyrotropin receptor (hTSHr) and thyroid neoplasms including one papillary carcinoma and one papillary lymph node metastases were evaluated for desensitization. CHO cells were stably transfected with plasmid DNA containing hTSHr. Cells were incubated with thyrotropin (10 mU/ml) for different periods (1 to 24 hours). A second incubation (30 minutes) was done with and without thyrotropin in medium including 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (1 mmol/L). Intracellular cAMP accumulation was determined by means of radioimmunoassay.

RESULTS

Maximal stimulation and desensitization to thyrotropin were observed at 30 minutes and 4 hours, respectively. The cAMP response to a second incubation with thyrotropin was 52% and 48% lower than the initial response to thyrotropin in CHO-hTSHr and papillary thyroid cancer cells, respectively (p < 0.001). A papillary carcinoma lymph node metastases had an increased basal cAMP level and also an increased cAMP level in response to thyrotropin stimulation (227%) but failed to desensitize (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Desensitization of the cAMP response to thyrotropin occurred in a papillary thyroid cancer but not in a metastatic thyroid cancer. Failure to desensitize might play a role in tumor progression.

Thyrotropin internalization is directed by a highly conserved motif in the seventh transmembrane region of its receptor

The thyrotropin (TSH) receptor is a member of G protein-coupled seven-transmembrane-segment receptors. It is characterized by a large extracellular domain linked to the seven transmembrane segments and ending with a cytoplasmic tail. Sequence alignment shows that a highly conserved motif, NPXXY where X is any amino acid, exists at the boundary between the seventh transmembrane domain and proximal part of the cytoplasmic tail of virtually all G protein-coupled receptors. This motif has been implicated as an internalization signal for several cell surface receptors, such as the low density lipoprotein (LDL), insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) receptors. The potential effects of this motif on the TSH receptor signal transduction and receptor-mediated TSH internalization was analysed by replacement of the tyrosine(678) residue with an alanine residue. This mutation does not impair high affinity TSH binding, but completely abolishes the ability of cAMP response upon TSH stimulation. It also significantly reduces TSH internalization. The role of the cytoplasmic tail of the TSH receptor in receptor-mediated internalization was also assessed. Deletion of up to 56 amino acids from the C-terminus of the cytoplasmic tail enhances TSH internalization as compared to the wild-type receptor. We conclude that tyrosine(678) in the NPXXY motif is required for efficient receptor-mediated TSH internalization and G protein coupling. The cytoplasmic tail of the TSH receptor may contain sequence domains which could modulate the effects of the NPXXY internalization signal.

Lack of relationship between 3',5'cyclic adenosine monophosphate desensitization and thyrotropin receptor down regulation in the rat thyroid cell line FRTL5

We studied the cAMP response and radioiodinated TSH binding in the FRTL5 rat thyroid cell line after chronic exposure to TSH. In parallel experiments, continuous exposure to TSH induced both a decrease in the cellular cAMP responsiveness to a second acute stimulation by thyrotropin (desensitization) and a reduction in 125I-TSH cellular binding (down-regulation). These two processes appeared to differ in that: a) cAMP desensitization was maximal (45-55% inhibition in comparison to control cells) after 24 h of preexposure to TSH; on the contrary, a loss of the TSH binding to thyroid cells was detected only after 24 h and was maximal (55-65% lower than control cells) after 48 h of preexposure to TSH; b) a different dependence on the TSH dose was observed for cAMP desensitization and TSH down-regulation: the former was maximal at 10 microU/ml of TSH, the latter only at 10 mU/ml of TSH; c) recovery from cAMP desensitization was detected 3 h after TSH withdrawal and was fully achieved at 24 h, whereas the recovery from the TSH receptor down-regulation was not evident for up to 24 h and a full recovery obtained only at 72 h; d) the use of cAMP analogues proved that, unlike desensitization, TSH receptor down-regulation is a cAMP dependent process. These findings support the concept that different patterns of response to prolonged stimulation with TSH, an earlier and cAMP-independent process (desensitization) and a later cAMP-dependent mechanism (down-regulation), occur in the rat thyroid cell.

Use of anti-idiotypic antibodies as probes for the interaction of TSH subunits with its receptor

TSH is a heterodimeric glycoprotein hormone, whose dissociated subunits are without biological activity. This has precluded the assessment of the relative contribution of each subunit to hormone action. We have raised anti-idiotypes to monoclonal antibodies specific, respectively, for the alpha and beta hTSH subunits. The anti-beta anti-idiotype inhibited 125I-hTSH binding to the beta subunit-specific monoclonal quantitatively, whereas 125I-hTSH binding to the alpha subunit-specific monoclonal was not inhibited by anti-alpha anti-idiotypes, suggesting that only the former is an "internal image" anti-idiotype. Neither of the two anti-idiotypes nor equimolar mixtures thereof inhibited 125I-bTSH binding to thyroid membranes, even though radiolabelled anti-idiotypes showed saturable binding to thyroid plasma membrane which was inhibited 41-65% by bTSH. Each anti-idiotype alone caused 9% inhibition (compared to 50% by NRIgG) of thyroid plasma membrane adenylate cyclase. Equimolar mixtures (125 micrograms/ml IgG of each anti-idiotype) induced enzyme activity equivalent to 85% of that of 250 mU/ml of TSH. The TSH-like action of the two anti-idiotypes was also reflected in their capacity to increase (450% by 250 micrograms/ml IgG compared to normal rabbit IgG) the uptake of 131I into isolated thyrocytes and to promote the organization of such cells into follicular structures. At 250 micrograms/ml, anti-beta anti-idiotype promoted the organization of small follicles and only at a concentration of 500 micrograms/ml did it enhance 131I uptake.

Processing of human choriogonadotropin and its receptors by cultured pig Leydig cells. Role of cyclic AMP and protein synthesis

We have examined the process by which human choriogonadotropin/luteinizing hormone (hCG/LH) receptors are regulated in cultured porcine Leydig cells. Treatment of Leydig cells with human choriogonadotropin, cholera toxin, forskolin and cyclic 8-bromoAMP (8-BrcAMP) produced a loss of surface receptors without modification of the binding affinity. This negative regulation of the number of receptors mediated by maximal concentrations of hCG was higher than that induced by the other agents. The extent of receptor loss in cells treated with increasing concentrations of hCG was highly correlated with their capacity to stimulate cAMP production. However, there was little correlation between down-regulation and cAMP production of these cells treated by hCG plus forskolin or cholera toxin plus forskolin, where a synergistic cAMP production was obtained. Following exposure of Leydig cells to both hCG and 8-BrcAMP, the surface receptor disappearance began after an initial lag period of about 6-8 h. Thereafter a 50% loss of surface receptor was observed in the next 8-h incubation. Monensin with hCG shortens this lag period before initiation of receptor loss. Kinetic studies with 125I-hCG, in the presence or absence of monensin, showed that the half-life of the receptor-bound hormone complexes at the cell surface was 10.5 h and 8 h respectively. Therefore, the steady state of the surface receptor during the lag phase of 8 h is probably related to recycling of internalized receptors and/or translocation of performed receptors. Cycloheximide and actinomycin D inhibit hCG-mediated and 8-BrcAMP-mediated down-regulation. Cycloheximide lengthens ligand-receptor complexes at the surface by slowing down the rate of internalization (half-life of 20 h), but this mechanism is not enough per se to explain the effect of cycloheximide. Pulses of hCG or 8-BrcAMP for 4 h and 8 h sufficed to induce nearly maximal down-regulation. However, it was possible to attenuate this triggering effect by adding cycloheximide after pulse of the cells. Thus, even after removal of the triggering agent (hCG or 8-BrcAMP), the loss of surface receptor could be triggered by a protein-sensitive signal. Taken as a whole these results indicate that a coordinated interaction is involved in the cell-surface hCG/LH receptor regulation. The apparent steady state of the number of receptors during the first hours of stimulation passed through a reuptake of internalized receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Evidence for the rapid internalization and recycling of lutropin receptors in rat testis Leydig cells

A study into the binding of 125I-human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to the lutropin (LH) receptor in rat testis Leydig cells, and subsequent internalization of the hormone-receptor complex, has been carried out. The results show that there is rapid internalization of the hormone-receptor complex; 240 receptors/cell (from a total of approx. 4000 receptors/cell) were internalized each minute in the first hour after exposure to hCG. Radioactivity was released from the cell 1 h after internalization and was found to be associated with highly degraded hCG. The endocytic process was found to have two temperature-sensitive steps. At 4 degrees C, movement of the hormone-receptor complex inside the cell did not occur, and at 21 degrees C hormone accumulated within the cytoplasm but was not degraded or released from the cell. At 34 degrees C, internalization, degradation and loss of the degraded hormone from the cell occurred. These processes appeared to reach a steady state after 2 h. Even though there is rapid internalization of the hormone-receptor complex following exposure to hCG, the binding sites on the cell surface were maintained for at least 4 h. The number of binding sites on the cell surface was not decreased by a protein synthesis inhibitor but was reduced to undetectable levels by monensin. This compound inhibits acidification of endocytic vesicles, which is known to be an important prerequisite to receptor cycling. It is concluded that, in the rat testis Leydig cells, following binding of hCG to the LH receptor there is rapid internalization of the complex and that recycling of the receptor occurs to the cell surface. This process may be essential in maintaining the capacity of the Leydig cell to bind fresh hormone.

Studies on the mechanism of desensitization of the cyclic AMP response to TSH stimulation in a cloned rat thyroid cell line

We examined aspects of the mechanism of desensitization of adenylate cyclase activation by TSH in a cloned line of rat thyroid cells (FRTL). Increasing FRTL intracellular cAMP concentrations by preincubation for 6 h in either 1 mM dBcAMP or 100 microM forskolin did not induce TSH desensitization. Forskolin stimulation was unimpaired in TSH-desensitized cells, indicating 'uncoupling' of the adenylate cyclase catalytic unit from the TSH receptor. Stimulation by the Ni inhibitory pathway of the adenylate cyclase by epinephrine (10(-6) M-10(-4) M in the presence of 10(-4) M propranolol) was unaltered in cells previously desensitized to TSH. That is, Ni-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase was additive to TSH desensitization. Pre-exposure of FRTL cells for 18 h to 50 ng/ml pertussis toxin did not prevent the induction of TSH desensitization. TSH desensitization was prevented by cycloheximide or actinomycin D added during the last 3-4 h of a 6 h period of TSH stimulation. The rates of turnover of the putative desensitization protein and its mRNA therefore appear to be similar.

Desensitization of LLC-PK1 cells by vasopressin results in receptor down-regulation

The molecular mechanism of desensitization of antidiuretic hormone receptors is not well understood. Preincubation of LLC-PK1 cells with lysine vasopressin (LVP) (10(-6) M, 5 h) decreased subsequent LVP-stimulated cAMP accumulation in cells by 83% and reduced the Vmax of LVP-stimulated adenylate cyclase by 81%. Such preincubation also reduced by 90% the binding of [3H]LVP to both intact cells and isolated plasma membranes, suggesting a loss of vasopressin receptors. Both the reduction in cAMP response and the apparent loss of receptors showed similar dose and time dependence. Monensin (33 microM) did not alter [3H]LVP binding or stimulation of cAMP by LVP, nor did it prevent desensitization. However, membranes prepared from cells preincubated with LVP in the presence of monensin did not show a decrease in [3H]LVP binding. Forskolin preincubation, at 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 microM, did not alter [3H]LVP binding or accumulation of cellular cAMP by LVP, nor did it induce desensitization to LVP. Cells desensitized with varying LVP concentrations in the presence of 10 microM forskolin displayed the same loss of [3H]LVP binding and LVP responsiveness as observed in the absence of forskolin. LVP-desensitized cells, upon removal from LVP-containing medium, recovered cAMP responsiveness to LVP and specific binding of [3H]LVP at the same rate, achieving control levels after 50 h. Recovery was prevented by cycloheximide (25 micrograms/ml). These findings are consistent with a desensitization process involving LVP-mediated receptor internalization, and a recovery process requiring protein synthesis.

Adrenocorticotropin regulates angiotensin II receptors in bovine adrenal cells in vitro

The role of ACTH-(1-24) on angiotensin II receptors has been studied in bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells in primary culture. Angiotensin II receptors were measured in cells pretreated or not by ACTH-(1-24) on day 4 of culture. ACTH-(1-24) decreased angiotensin II binding sites in a time and a dose-dependent manner. After 24 hours of treatment the minimal effective dose of ACTH-(1-24) was 10(-11)M and the maximal effect was obtained with 10(-8)M. Moreover, ACTH-(1-24) 10(-8)M decreased significantly angiotensin II receptors after 6 hours of treatment. Scatchard plot analysis showed that ACTH-(1-24) treatment did not modify the affinity of angiotensin II receptors (Ka = 0.42 and 0.44 X 10(9)M-1 in control and treated cells respectively) but reduced by about half the number of angiotensin II sites per cell. Like ACTH-(1-24), 8-Bromo-cAMP, forskolin and cholera toxin decreased angiotensin II receptors. Factors such as prolactin, somatostatin, ACTH-(11-24) and dopamine which are bound to adrenal membranes without increasing cAMP production had no effect. In conclusion, these studies in vitro demonstrate for the first time that ACTH decreases angiotensin II receptors by a direct mechanism acting on glomerulosa cells, and they also suggest that this effect could be mediated by cAMP.

Modulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor by platelet-derived growth factor and choleragen: effects on mitogenesis

The addition of fresh medium supplemented with partially purified platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) to quiescent density-arrested cultures of BALB/c-3T3 cells decreases the subsequent binding of radiolabeled epidermal growth factor (EGF). The decrease in EGF binding can be observed 1 hr after the addition of PDGF. This effect is maximal in 2-3 hr, and binding remains diminished for at least 6 hr. These effects can be accounted for by a decrease in the number of EGF receptors with no change in receptor affinity. The action of PDGF is concentration dependent, but even at very high concentrations of PDGF the reduction in EGF binding is never more than 50%. Similar decreases in EGF binding are produced by other treatments that render BALB/c-3T3 cells competent, such as the addition of fibroblast growth factor or medium previously exposed to the macrophage-like cell line P388D(1). Cholera toxin (choleragen), which alone had no effect on EGF binding, dramatically potentiated the ability of PDGF to down regulate EGF receptors. Two to three hours after the addition of PDGF and choleragen, EGF binding was reduced by 80-90% compared with control values. The ability of PDGF and choleragen together to decrease EGF binding was substantially inhibited by cycloheximide. Autoradiography of [(3)H]thymidine-labeled cells shows that choleragen potentiates the action of PDGF; lower concentrations of PDGF are required to make cells competent after choleragen treatment. Furthermore, cells treated with PDGF and choleragen no longer require EGF for traverse of G(1) phase and initiation of DNA synthesis in defined medium. The reduction in receptor number produced by choleragen and PDGF, which may be due to internalization of the EGF receptor, may mimic the action of EGF and thereby remove the EGF requirement for DNA synthesis.