The follicular thyroid cell line PCCL3 responds differently to laminin and to polylaminin, a polymer of laminin assembled in acidic pH

• Published in: Molecular and cellular endocrinology Vol. 376; no. 1-2; pp. 12 - 22
• Main Authors: Palmero, C.Y., Miranda-Alves, L., Sant’Ana Barroso, M.M., Souza, E.C.L., Machado, D.E., Palumbo-Junior, A., Santos, C.A.N., Portilho, D.M., Mermelstein, C.S., Takiya, C.M., Carvalho, D.P., Hochman-Mendez, C., Coelho-Sampaio, T., Nasciutti, L.E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 25-08-2013
• Subjects: acidification; actin; Actin Cytoskeleton - drug effects; Actin Cytoskeleton - metabolism; Actin Cytoskeleton - ultrastructure; Animals; Biological Transport; biomimetics; Cell Line; cell polarity; Cell Polarity - drug effects; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell spreading; Cell Survival - drug effects; cultured cells; extracellular matrix; Gene Expression; glass; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Iodide uptake; iodides; Laminin; Laminin - pharmacology; microfilaments; PCCL3 cells; Peptides - chemistry; Peptides - pharmacology; phenotype; plasma membrane; Polylaminin; Polymerization; polymers; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Sodium Iodide - metabolism; Symporters - genetics; Symporters - metabolism; Thyroid; Thyroid Gland - cytology; Thyroid Gland - drug effects; Thyroid Gland - metabolism; Laminin; Polylaminin; PCCL3 cells; Cell spreading; Thyroid; Iodide uptake
• ISSN: 0303-7207; 1872-8057
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2013.05.020

The extracellular-matrix protein laminin forms polymers both in vivo and in vitro. Acidification of pH leads to the formation of an artificial polymer with biomimetic properties, named polylaminin (polyLM). Follicle cells in the thyroid are in close contact with laminin, but their response to this important extracellular signal is still poorly understood. PCCL3 thyroid follicular cells cultured on glass, on regular laminin (LM) or on laminin previously polymerized in acidic pH (polyLM) showed different cell morphologies and propensities to proliferate, as well as differences in the organization of their actin cytoskeleton. On polyLM, cells displayed a typical epithelial morphology and radially organized actin fibers; whereas on LM, they spread irregularly on the substrate, lost cell contacts, and developed thick actin fibers extending through the entire cytoplasm. Iodide uptake decreased similarly in response to both laminin substrates, in comparison to glass. On both the LM and polyLM substrates, the expression of the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) decreased slightly but not significantly. NIS showed dotted immunostaining at the plasma membrane in the cells cultured on glass; on polyLM, NIS was observed mainly in the perinuclear region, and more diffusely throughout the cytoplasm on the LM substrate. Additionally, polyLM specifically favored the maintenance of cell polarity in culture. These findings indicate that PCCL3 cells can discriminate between LM and polyLM and that they respond to the latter by better preserving the phenotype observed in the thyroid tissue.