IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL DEMONSTRATION OF THYROTROPIN (TSH)-RECEPTOR IN NORMAL AND DISEASED HUMAN THYROID TISSUES USING MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY AGAINST RECOMBINANT HUMAN TSH-RECEPTOR PROTEIN

We performed an immunohistochemical analysis of TSH-receptor in normal and diseased human thyroid tissues using a monoclonal antibody (T3-35 6) against the C terminal region of human TSH receptor. In normal huma n thyroid tissues, a positive staining was observed exclusively along the basal cell surface of the flattened follicular cells. In the tissu es from adenomatous nodules, adenomas, and papillary carcinomas, a pos itive staining was also found along the basal cell surface of the foll icular cells. In addition, a considerable cytoplasmic staining was obs erved. The apical and lateral cell surfaces of the follicular cells sh owed no staining. The foci of squamous cell metaplasia of papillary ca rcinomas, anaplastic carcinoma, and medullary carcinoma did not show a positive staining. In Graves' thyroids, the positive staining was als o observed along the basal cell surface of the follicular cells. The s taining was obviously intense in the Graves' thyroids, and the most in tense staining was noted in the foci of papillary projection of the co lumnar follicular cells. These findings indicate that TSH receptor is preserved essentially in the basal cell surface of the thyroid follicu lar cells in neoplastic conditions and that the amount of TSH receptor protein is increased in Graves' thyroid.