Measurement of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins by incorporation of tritiated-adenine into intact FRTL-5 cells: A viable alternative to radioimmunoassay for the measurement of cAMP

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the utility of 3H-adenine incorporation into intact rat thyroid epithelial cells (FRTL-5) as an alternative to radioimmunoassay for the measurement of cAMP following stimulation of these cells by serum thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins from patients with Graves' disease. Design: We determined the cAMP produced by FRTL-5 cells following incubation with serum from patients with a spectrum of autoimmune thyroid and other diseases using the 3H-adenine assay. Patients: We studied 27 patients with untreated Graves' disease, 10 with Graves' disease complicated by ophthalmopathy (all on antithyroid medication), 11 with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, five with multinodular goitre, ..