Desensitization of cyclic adenosine 3,5'-monophosphate response to thyrotropin in normal and primary or metastatic papillary thyroid cancer cells in vitro

Abstract

Background, Desensitization is an important physiologic process resulting in a decreased functional response after continuous or repeated stimulation. Prior exposure of normal human thyroid tissue to thyrotropin either in vivo or in vitro causes desensitization of adenylate cyclase. Little is known, however, about whether the thyrotropin-adenylate cyclase-cyclic adenosine 3,5'-monophosphate (cAMP) signal transduction system desensitizes in human thyroid carcinomas. Failure to desensitize could result in increased growth or metastases.