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Effects of type I-interferons on human thyroid epithelial cells derived from normal and tumour tissue

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Abstract

Long term interferon (IFN) therapy is frequently associated with side effects which affect the thyroid gland such as hypothyroidism and thyroiditis. We have therefore tested the ability of type I-IFNs to exert direct effects on primary cultures of human thyroid epithelial cells: (i) Type I-IFNs (IFN-α 2b and IFN-ω) inhibit cell proliferation as determined by [3H]thymidine incorporation with a half-maximal effect at ∼1 ng/ml (50 pM). Inhibition of cell growth is observed in cells derived from normal thyroid as well as neoplastic tissue (autonomous and non-secreting adenoma; follicular, papillary and anaplastic carcinoma). (ii) Over a similar concentration range, type I-IFNs suppressed thyroglobulin release by thyroid cells. (iii) IFN-α 2b stimulated surface expression of major histocompatibility class (MHC) I but not MHC II molecules, while IFN-γ enhanced the expression of both MHC I and MHC II molecules. This effect of IFN-γ, but not that of IFN-α 2b was antagonized by suramin. (iv) Incubation of thyroid cells with IFN-α 2b also resulted in increased cell surface levels of the intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). These findings demonstrate that type I-IFNs directly affect thyroid function and explain related side effects of these cytokines. In addition, our results provide a rational basis for the possible use of type I-IFNs in the treatment of patients with advanced thyroid cancer for whom no therapeutic alternative exists.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pharmacology, University of Vienna, Wahringer Strasse 13a, Vienna, Austria

    Edgar Selzer, Veronika Sexl & Michael Freissmuth

  2. Clinic of Radiation Therapy, Vienna University General Hospital, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090, Vienna, Austria

    Edgar Selzer

  3. Clinic for Internal Medicine I, Vienna University General Hospital, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090, Vienna, Austria

    Astrid Wilfing

Authors
  1. Edgar Selzer
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  2. Astrid Wilfing
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  3. Veronika Sexl
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  4. Michael Freissmuth
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Correspondence to: M. Freissmuth at the above address

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Selzer, E., Wilfing, A., Sexl, V. et al. Effects of type I-interferons on human thyroid epithelial cells derived from normal and tumour tissue. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 350, 322–328 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00175039

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00175039

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