Epithelial cell polarization in culture: orientation of cell polarity and expression of specific functions, studied with cultured thyroid cells

Isolated porcine thyroid cells reorganize in culture into various types of multicellular structure, which differ in the orientation of cell polarity and in the surface of the cell layer accessible to molecules present in the culture medium. The types of structure are: (1) follicles: the basal pole is oriented toward the medium; (2) inside-out follicles or monolayers: the apical pole is facing the culture medium; (3) monolayers on a permeable substratum: both sides of the cell layer are accessible to the medium. Follicles can be transformed into inside-out follicles or monolayers and vice versa by manipulation of the external cell environment and without dissociating the cells. Cells concentrate iodide and respond to acute stimulation by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) when the basal pole is accessible, and organification occurs only when cells form a closed follicular lumen. In porous-bottomed culture chambers monolayers are formed with the basal surface accessible to the medium and the apical compartment separated from the medium. Under these conditions 85-95% of the thyroglobulin produced is secreted apically and 5-15% basally. Thyrotropin stimulates (X3) apical accumulation without modifying secretion in the basal compartment. Sodium transport across the cell layer has been characterized. An amiloride-sensitive influx occurs at the apical pole whereas the Na+/K+-ATPase, localized in the basolateral membrane, mediates ouabain-sensitive efflux at the basal pole. The thyroid epithelium in culture appears therefore as a Na+-absorbing epithelium. The role of this transport in the stabilization of cell polarity is discussed.