Thyrotropin (TSH) Receptor and Adenylate Cyclase Activity in Human Thyroid Tumors: Absence of High Affinity Receptor and Loss of TSH Responsiveness in Undifferentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

Abstract

TSH receptor and adenylate cyclase activity of plasma membrane fractions of human thyroid tumors were examined. The mean (±SD) basal adenylate cyclase activity in normal thyroid tissues was 0.35 ± 0.33 nmole/mg protein-10 min. The activity rose to 280% (range, 270–310%) of basal with TSH (166 mU/ml). In adenomas, the activity rose to 600%(range, 530–650), which was significantly higher than that of normal thyroid (P 10 M^-1). On the other hand, high affinity receptor could not be detected in all of the undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma. It seems likely that the failure of adenylate cyclase to respond to TSH in undifferentiated carcinoma of the thyroid is due to an alteration at thelevel of the receptor site. These data suggest that growth and metabolic activity of undifferentiated carcinoma may be independent of TSH, while thoseof adenoma and differentiated carcinoma may be affected by TSH. (J Clin En-docrinol Metab52: 23, 1981)