Human recombinant interleukin 1 inhibits TSH-stimulated morphological changes in thyroid follicles cultured as semi-organs.

To study the effects of human recombinant interleukin-1 on thyrocytes, we cultured thyroid follicles as semi-organs, each consisting of approximately 10-20 follicles, in the presence or absence of IL-1 alpha or beta. Semi-organ culture reproduces the in vivo environment well. After culture for 2 or 4 days, the follicles were incubated with TSH (10 U/l) for 4 h and fixed for light and electron microscopical examinations. Regardless of the presence or absence of IL-1, follicular structure, polarity, and luminal colloid did not change during culture. In thyroid epithelial cells cultured without IL-1, TSH markedly induced elongation of microvilli and formation of reabsorbed colloid droplets. On the other hand, both IL-1 alpha and beta inhibited these TSH-stimulated changes. The degree of inhibition correlated with the concentration of exposure to IL-1. We conclude that IL-1 inhibits TSH-stimulated morphological changes in thyroid follicles cultured as semi-organs, depending on the concentration of IL-1.