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Morphological and functional differentiation of human thyroid cells in collagen gel culture
Author(s) -
ThomasMorvan Colette,
Caillou Bernard,
Schlumberger Martin,
Fragu Philippe
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
biology of the cell
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.543
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1768-322X
pISSN - 0248-4900
DOI - 10.1111/j.1768-322x.1988.tb00727.x
Subject(s) - biology , thyroglobulin , cell culture , tissue culture , thyroid , cellular differentiation , in vitro , microbiology and biotechnology , stimulation , endocrinology , secretion , in vivo , medicine , biochemistry , gene , genetics
In order to study the expression of the morphological and functional characteristics of human thyroid cells, 3‐dimensional cultures were carried out in collagen gel. This substrate allows the cells to retain their organization in follicles with a normal polarity. Cellular polarities appeared normal at the time of collagen embedding, but there was a delay of 4–5 days in culture before the maximal TSH stimulation of 125 I − uptake and of cAMP accumulation occurred. In normal and adenoma‐derived cells, 125 I − uptake, which could be increased by TSH, was demonstrated. cAMP accumulated in the culture medium and thyroglobulin was secreted into the follicle lumen. Of the 4 differentiated carcinomas for which the 72‐hr uptake of 125 I − was measured, only 2 displayed slight 125 I − uptake and response to TSH. Thus, human thyroid cells exhibit better morphological and functional differentiation in collagen gel culture than in monolayer culture. Furthermore, in a variety of pathological cases studied, the expression of specific characteristics in culture varied in a fashion similar to differences observed in vivo .