The cholecystokinin2-receptor mediates calcitonin secretion, gene expression, and proliferation in the human medullary thyroid carcinoma cell line, TT.

Gastrin-induced release of calcitonin from medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTC) is based on the expression of the cholecystokinin2-receptor (CCK2R) in these tumors. Recently, we have shown that the CCK2R is expressed not only in MTC but also in C-cells within the normal thyroid gland. The functions of the CCK2R in MTC and C-cells are largely unknown. We therefore explored the effects of gastrin-induced CCK2R stimulation in the highly differentiated MTC cell line, TT.