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Immortalized Human Pituitary Cells Express Glycoprotein -Subunit and Thyrotropin ß (TSHß)

Departments of Medicine (J.H., J.W., M.D.L., P.J.H., J.S.D., B.M.L., M.F.S.), and Pathology (J.A.B., B.J., D.W.T.), University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. J. Ham, Department of Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XN, Wales, United Kingdom.

A major problem in the study of human pituitary cells is their lack of proliferative capacity in vitro. To address this issue, we have infected normal human, postmortem pituitary cells in monolayer culture with a temperature-sensitive (tsA58) mutant of SV40 large T antigen. Several epithelial-like colonies were isolated; and one, designated CHP2, has been studied in detail to identify its functional characteristics. CHP2 cells have undergone more than 150 culture passages and retain an epithelial morphology. They exhibit tight temperature-dependent growth, in the presence and absence of serum, with cell division at 33 C and growth inhibition at 39 C. CHP2 cells, at both temperatures, showed diffuse immunostaining for human -subunit and focal staining for TSHß. Gene expression was confirmed by RT-PCR and sequencing. TRH and GnRH receptors were not detectable, and their absence was confirmed by their lack of effects on intracellular calcium and inositol phospholipids. Cytogenetic analysis showed that the cells had a modal peak in the diploid range and a smaller peak in the tetraploid range. There was also a consistent loss of chromosome 22 and a normal chromosome 2 homologue, the latter being replaced by one of two chromosome 2 markers, M2A or M2B. In conclusion, we have immortalized human pituitary cells using SV40 tsT, from which we have cloned a cell line expressing -subunit and TSHß.

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