Stimulation of glucose utilization and lactate production in cultured human fibroblasts by thyroid hormone

Human dermal fibroblasts were obtained by harvesting outgrowing cells from the dermal tissue explants and cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium containing 10% fetal calf serum. After the cells reached confluency, culture was continued in the medium containing calf serum which was deprived of thyroid hormone by the treatment with activated charcoal. These fibroblasts were responsive to exogeneously added thyroid hormone (triiodothyronine) at physiological concentrations, resulting in enhanced utilization of glucose and production of lactate. This timulation by thyroid hormone was dependent upon the length of exposure to the hormone and its concentration. The hormone did not show any effect on cellular DNA and protein content. The experimental system described above seems to be easy to reconstitute and should be useful for the elucidation of the mechanism of thyroid hormone action.