Thyroid hormone induces apoptosis in primary cell cultures of tadpole intestine: Cell type specificity and effects of extracellular matrix

Yuan Su, Yufang Shi, Melissa A. Stolow, Yun Bo Shi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

58 Scopus citations

Abstract

Thyroid hormone (T3 or 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine) plays a causative role during amphibian metamorphosis. To investigate how T3 induces some cells to die and others to proliferate and differentiate during this process, we have chosen the model system of intestinal remodeling, which involves apoptotic degeneration of larval epithelial cells and proliferation and differentiation of other cells, such as the fibroblasts and adult epithelial cells, to form the adult intestine. We have established in vitro culture conditions for intestinal epithelial cells and fibroblasts. With this system, we show that T3 can enhance the proliferation of both cell types. However, T3 also concurrently induces larval epithelial apoptosis, which can be inhibited by the extracellular matrix (ECM). Our studies with known inhibitors of mammalian cell death reveal both similarities and differences between amphibian and mammalian cell death. These, together with gene expression analysis, reveal that T3 appears to simultaneously induce different pathways that lead to specific gene regulation, proliferation, and apoptotic degeneration of the epithelial cells. Thus, our data provide an important molecular and cellular basis for the differential responses of different cell types to the endogenous T3 during metamorphosis and support a role of ECM during frog metamorphosis.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)1533-1543
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Cell Biology
Volume139
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 15 1997
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cell Biology

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