Enhanced human thrombopoietin production by sodium butyrate addition to serum-free suspension culture of bcl-2-overexpressing CHO cells

When sodium butyrate (NaBu) was added to serum-free suspension culture of recombinant CHO (rCHO) cells for enhanced expression of human thrombopoietin (hTPO), apoptotic cell death of rCHO cells was induced in a dose-dependent manner and hTPO quality was deteriorated in regard to sialic acid and acidic isoform contents. To overcome these problems, we overexpressed Bcl-2 protein, an antiapoptotic protein, in rCHO cells producing hTPO. Compared to serum-free suspension culture of control cells without Bcl-2 overexpression (R-neo cells) and NaBu addition, a more than 10-fold increase in the maximum hTPO concentration was obtained in serum-free suspension culture of cells with Bcl-2 overexpression (R-bc12-14 cells) and 3 mM NaBu addition. Both the enhanced specific productivity endowed by NaBu and the extended culture longevity provided by the antiapoptotic effect of Bcl-2 overexpression contributed to the enhancement of maximum hTPO concentration. The problem of quality reduction of hTPO induced by NaBu was not solved by Bcl-2 overexpression, but it was not that significant. Compared to the culture in the absence of NaBu, the percentage of hTPO isoforms in pI 3-5 with high in vivo biological activity produced by R-bc12-14 cells was decreased by approximately 18% in the presence of 3 mM. As a result, a more than 6-fold increase in the production of hTPO isoforms in pI 3-5 was achieved in R-bcl2-14 cell culture with 3 mM NaBu addition. Taken together, the data obtained suggest that Bcl-2 overexpression in rCHO cells and NaBu addition in serum-free suspension culture can be an effective means to enhance the production of highly glycosylated protein such as hTPO.     

Influence of co-down-regulation of caspase-3 and caspase-7 by siRNAs on sodium butyrate-induced apoptotic cell death of Chinese hamster ovary cells producing thrombopoietin

Previously, the expression of caspase-3 siRNA could not effectively inhibit sodium butyrate (NaBu)-induced apoptotic cell death of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cells producing human thrombopoietin (hTPO). Caspase-3 siRNA expressing cells appeared to compensate for the lack of caspase-3 by increasing active caspase-7 levels. For the successful inhibition of NaBu-induced apoptosis of rCHO cells, both caspase-3 and caspase-7 were down-regulated using the siRNA expression vector system. Co-down-regulation of caspase-3 and caspase-7 increased cell viability and extended culture longevity in serum-free culture in the presence or absence of 1mM NaBu addition. In the cultures with 1mM NaBu addition, the maximum hTPO concentration in rCHO cells with down-regulation of both caspases was approximately 55% higher than that in rCHO cells without down-regulation of caspases and approximately 16% higher than rCHO cells with down-regulation of only caspase-3. However, in the culture with 3mM NaBu, this strategy could not dramatically enhance the culture longevity and hTPO production, compared to Bcl-2 overexpression. The different result in hTPO production between down-regulation of caspases and Bcl-2 overexpression may be because the down-regulation of caspase-3 and caspase-7, unlike Bcl-2 overexpression, could not maintain mitochondrial membrane potential in the presence of 3mM NaBu. Taken together, co-down-regulation of caspase-3 and caspase-7 is effective in regard to extension of culture longevity and enhancement of hTPO production in a serum-free culture in the presence or absence of 1mM NaBu addition.     

The combined effect of sodium butyrate and low culture temperature on the production,sialylation, and biological activity of an antibody produced in CHO cells

Cell cultures containing 0 ∼ 5 mM sodium butyrate (NaBu) and grown at 30 and 37°C were conducted to investigate the combined effect of NaBu and low temperature on the quantity and quality of an antibody production in CHO cells. Although NaBu addition decreased cell viability by apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner at both 30 and 37°C, the onset of significant apoptosis induced by NaBu was delayed by lowering culture temperature. The highest specific antibody productivity (q _p) of 23.26 pg/cell/day was obtained in the culture containing 2 mM NaBu at 30°C; however, the highest antibody concentration of 167.84 mg/L was achieved in the culture containing 1 mM NaBu at 30°C, as the detrimental effect of further NaBu addition on cell growth compromised its beneficial effect on q _p. Moreover, protein quality with respect to the total sialic acid content and Nglycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) level was evaluated. There were no apparent changes regarding the total sialic acid content of the antibody, but manipulation of cultures with NaBu treatment or (and) low culture temperature did decrease Neu5Gc levels by 5 ∼ 10%. Biological activity of the antibody was also assessed, and no obvious changes were observed. Collectively, the simultaneous application of NaBu and low culture temperature was an effective way to extend culture period and enhance final antibody concentration, without compromising the sialic acid content or biological activity.     

Growth factor withdrawal in combination with sodium butyrate addition extends culture longevity and enhances antibody production in CHO cells

The effect of growth factor (GF) and sodium butyrate (NaBu) on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell growth, cell viability and antibody production was investigated using shaking flasks in GF-containing and GF-deficient medium containing 0, 1 and 3 mM NaBu. The withdrawal of GF and the addition of NaBu suppressed cell growth, but they significantly increased specific antibody productivity, q_Ab. Interestingly, the withdrawal of GF in combination with the addition of NaBu markedly retarded cell death, leading to extended culture longevity. For instance, at 3 mM NaBu, cell viability fell below 80% after day 4 in GF-containing medium, but it remained over 80% until day 18 in GF-deficient medium. Due to the enhanced q_Ab and the extended culture longevity, approximately 2-fold increase in total antibody production was achieved in pseudo-perfusion culture with 1 mM NaBu in GF-deficient medium, compared to the culture in GF-containing medium. The effect of GF and NaBu on the change in the expression and activity of cellular proteins, c-Myc, Bcl-2 and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), was also investigated. Both the withdrawal of GF and the addition of NaBu decreased the expression of c-Myc. The expression of Bcl-2 was enhanced by the addition of NaBu in a dose-dependent manner while it was not affected by the withdrawal of GF. In addition, both the withdrawal of GF and the addition of NaBu reduced metabolic rates, q_Glc, q_Lac and Y_Lac/Glc, and increased PDH activity while not affecting PDH expression, suggesting that they may reduce the glycolytic rates, but enhance the conversion rates of pyruvate to TCA intermediates. Taken together, the withdrawal of GF in combination with the addition of NaBu can be considered as a relevant strategy for alleviating NaBu-induced cell apoptosis and enhancing antibody production since it can be easily implemented as well as enhance q_Ab and extend culture longevity.     

Influence of down-regulation of caspase-3 by siRNAs on sodium-butyrate-induced apoptotic cell death of Chinese hamster ovary cells producing thrombopoietin

Sodium butyrate (NaBu) can enhance the expression of foreign protein of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cells, but it can also inhibit cell growth and induce cellular apoptosis. Thus, the beneficial effect of using a higher concentration of NaBu on foreign protein expression in rCHO cells is compromised by its growth inhibitory and cytotoxic effects. To overcome this cytotoxic effect of NaBu, an expression vector of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting against caspase-3, a key effector component in apoptosis, was constructed and transfected into rCHO cells producing human thrombopoietin (hTPO). Using this siRNA strategy, rCHO cells (F21 cells) expressing a low level of caspase-3 proenzyme determined by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis were established. Under the condition of 1-5 mM NaBu addition at the exponential growth phase, down-regulation of caspase-3 in F21 cells could not effectively inhibit NaBu-induced apoptotic cell death. This NaBu-induced apoptotic cell death occurred because F21 cells appeared to compensate for the lack of caspase-3 by increasing the active caspase-7 level. These results suggest that the intracellular caspase's interconnectivity should be taken into consideration for the successful inhibition of apoptosis of rCHO cells.     

Inhibition of sodium butyrate-induced apoptosis in recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cells by constitutively expressing antisense RNA of caspase-3

Sodium butyrate (NaBu) can enhance the expression of genes controlled by some of the mammalian promoters, but it can also inhibit cell growth and induce cellular apoptosis. Thus, the beneficial effect of using a higher concentration of NaBu on a foreign protein expression is compromised by its cytotoxic effect on cell growth. To overcome this cytotoxic effect of NaBu, the expression vector of antisense RNA of caspase-3 was constructed and transfected to recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cells producing a humanized antibody. Using this antisense RNA strategy, rCHO cells (B3) producing a low level of caspase-3 proenzyme were established. When batch cultures of both B3 cells and control cells transfected with antisense RNA-deficient plasmid were performed in the absence of NaBu, both cells showed similar profiles of cell growth and antibody production. Compared with control cell culture, under the condition of 5 mM NaBu addition at the exponential growth phase, expression of antisense RNA of caspase-3 significantly suppressed the NaBu-induced apoptosis of B3 cells and extended culture longevity by >2 days if the culture was terminated at cell viability of 50%. However, compared with control cell culture, the final antibody concentration of B3 cell culture was not increased in the presence of NaBu, which may be due to the loss of cellular metabolic capability resulted from the depolarization of mitochondrial membrane. Taken together, this study suggests that, although expression of antisense RNA of caspase-3 does not improve antibody productivity of rCHO cells, it can suppress NaBu-induced apoptotic cell death of rCHO cells and thereby may reduce problems associated with cellular disintegration.     

Yeast hydrolysate as a low-cost additive to serum-free medium for the production of human thrombopoietin in suspension cultures of Chinese hamster ovary cells

To enhance the performance of a serum-free medium (SFM) for human thrombopoietin (hTPO) production in suspension cultures of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cells, several low-cost hydrolysates such as yeast hydrolysate (YH), soy hydrolysate, wheat gluten hydrolysate and rice hydrolysate were tested as medium additives. Among various hydrolysates tested, the positive effect of YH on hTPO production was most significant. When 5 g l^–1 YH was added to SFM, the maximum hTPO concentration in batch culture was 40.41 g ml^–1, which is 11.5 times higher than that in SFM without YH supplementation. This enhanced hTPO production in YH-supplemented SFM was obtained by the combined effect of enhanced q_hTPO (the specific rate of hTPO production). The supplementation of YH in SFM increased q_hTPO by 294% and extended culture longevity by >2 days if the culture was terminated at a cell viability of 50%. Furthermore, cell viability throughout the culture using YH-supplemented SFM was higher than that using any other hydrolysate-supplemented SFM tested, thereby minimizing degradation of hTPO susceptible to proteolytic degradation. In addition, YH supplementation did not affect in vivo biological activity of hTPO. Taken together, the results obtained demonstrate the potential of YH as a medium additive for hTPO production in serum-free suspension cultures of rCHO cells.     

Inducible expression of Bcl-XL inhibits sodium butyrate-induced apoptosis in hybridoma, resulting in enhanced antibody production

Sodium butyrate (NaBu) can increase the specific Mab production rate of hybridomas by enhancing histone hyperacetylation and influencing the cell cycle, but it can also inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis. Thus, the beneficial effect of NaBu on Mab secretion is compromised by its cytotoxic effect. In the present study, expression of the anti-apoptotic protein human Bcl-XL was made inducible in hybridoma H18 to overcome the cytotoxic effect of NaBu, circumventing the detrimental effects of constitutive high-level expression. We constructed an expression vector in which the promoter of a mammalian metallothionein (MT) gene drove the expression of bcl-XL in response to metal exposure. The vector was then used to exogenously control the expression of bcl-XL in H18 hybridoma cells. Our data showed that stably transfected H18.D4 cells expressed high levels of Bcl-X(L), which was induced within 24 h of addition of ZnSO4. NaBu (0.4 mM) increased antibody production by more than 3-fold in H18.D4. This effect resulted from the suppression of NaBu-induced apoptosis, allowing the H18.D4 cells to grow at higher viability and extending culture longevity by >3 days.     

Effect of simultaneous application of stressful culture conditions on specific productivity and heterogeneity of erythropoietin in Chinese hamster ovary cells

A single stressful culture condition induced by hypoosmotic stress (210 mOsm kg(-1)), low culture temperature (32 degrees C), or NaBu addition (1 mM) resulted in a 1.8- to 2.2-fold enhancement of specific erythropoietin (EPO) productivity (qEPO) of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cells compared to normal culture condition (37 degrees C and 310 mOsm kg(-1)). Simultaneous application of these stressful conditions further enhanced qEPO up to approximately 5-fold. However, the quality of EPO was affected by stressful culture conditions. The proportion of acidic isoforms of EPO under a single stressful condition was 2.8-13.8% lower than that under normal culture condition. Simultaneous application of the stressful conditions further decreased the portion of acidic isoforms but not significantly. Despite 5-fold enhancement of q(EPO), the portion of acidic isoforms under the simultaneous application of stressful culture conditions was 12.9-21.6% lower than that under normal culture condition. Taken together, these results suggest the potential of simultaneous application of different stressful culture conditions to the production phase of two-stage culture, where cell growth and production phases are separated, for improved EPO production.     

Effect of N-Acetylcystein on butyrate-treated Chinese hamster ovary cells to improve the production of recombinant human interferon-beta-1a

Sodium butyrate (NaBu) is used as a productivity enhancer for the production of therapeutic recombinant proteins in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. However, NaBu is well-known for having a cytotoxic effect, thereby inducing apoptosis. As an endeavor to reduce this defect, we studied 11 antioxidants known for inhibiting apoptosis, according to a Plackett-Burman statistical design on CHO cells producing recombinant interferon-beta-1a (IFN-beta). None of the antioxidants that we tested were as effective as N-acetylcystein (NAC) from the point of view of maintaining long-term survival of CHO cells and increasing the production of IFN-beta. In 7.5-L perfusion bioreactor cultures, the addition of NaBu and NAC elongated the culture period to almost 200 h throughout production phase and increased the production yield by 2-fold compared to control cultures containing only NaBu. Glycosylation patterns of produced IFN-beta at each run were also compared in IEF analysis. IEF profiles of where NaBu and NAC were added showed to be more isoforms with a lower pI than those of the control run. The sialic acid content was also increased by 17.7% according to HPLC analysis. Taken together, the data obtained demonstrate that the addition of NAC has positive effects on the elongation of the culture period, improving the production and increasing the sialylation of IFN-beta in NaBu-treated CHO cells.     

Overexpression of bcl-2 inhibits sodium butyrate-induced apoptosis in Chinese hamster ovary cells resulting in enhanced humanized antibody production

Sodium butyrate (NaBu) can enhance the expression of genes from some of the mammalian promoters including cytomegalovirus (CMV) and simian virus 40 (SV40), but it can also inhibit cell growth and induce cellular apoptosis. Thus, the beneficial effect of using a higher concentration of NaBu on a foreign protein expression is compromised by its cytotoxic effect on cell growth. To overcome this cytotoxic effect of NaBu, a survival protein, human Bcl-2, was overexpressed in recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells (SH2-0.32), producing a humanized antibody directed against the S surface antigen of hepatitis B virus. When batch cultures of both control cells transfected with bcl-2-deficient plasmid (SH2-0.32-Deltabcl-2) and cells transfected with bcl-2 expression plasmid (14C6-bcl-2) were performed in the absence of NaBu, both cells showed similar profiles of cell viability and antibody production. Compared with the SH2-0.32-Deltabcl-2 culture, under the condition of NaBu addition at the exponential growth phase, overexpression of the bcl-2 gene considerably suppressed the NaBu-induced apoptosis of 14C6-bcl-2 by inhibiting caspase 3 activity and extending culture longevity by >2 days. As a result, the final antibody concentration of 14C6-bcl-2 culture was twofold higher than that of SH2-0.32-Deltabcl-2 culture in the presence of NaBu and threefold higher than that of SH2-0.32-Deltabcl-2 and 14C6-bcl-2 cultures in the absence of NaBu.     

A DIGE approach for the assessment of differential expression of the CHO proteome under sodium butyrate addition: Effect of Bcl‐xL overexpression

Bcl‐x_L, a member of the Bcl‐2 family, is known to inhibit apoptosis of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cells induced by the addition of sodium butyrate (NaBu), which is used for the elevated expression of recombinant protein. In order to understand the intracellular effects of Bcl‐x_L overexpression on CHO cells treated with NaBu, changes to the proteome caused by controlled Bcl‐x_L expression in rCHO cells producing erythropoietin (EPO) in the presence of 3 mM NaBu were evaluated using two‐dimensional differential in‐gel electrophoresis (2D‐DIGE) and MS analysis. The consequences of Bcl‐x_L overexpression were not limited to the apoptotic signaling pathway. Out of eight proteins regulated significantly by Bcl‐x_L overexpression in 3 mM NaBu addition culture, four proteins were related to cell survival (Iq motif‐containing GTPase‐activating protein 1), cell proliferation (dihydrolipoamide‐S‐acetyltransferase, guanine nucleotide binding protein alpha interacting 2), and repair of DNA damage (BRCA and CDKN1A interacting protein). Taken together, a DIGE approach reveals that overexpression of Bcl‐x_L not only inhibits apoptosis in the presence of NaBu but also affects cell proliferation and survival in various aspects. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010; 105: 358–367. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Effect of sodium butyrate on autophagy and apoptosis in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Sodium butyrate (NaBu), which is widely used in recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cell (rCHO) cultures for high-level expression of therapeutic proteins, is known to induce apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Lately, the significance of autophagy has increased in the field of CHO cell culture due to the fact that autophagy is related to the programmed cell death mechanism. To determine the effect of NaBu on autophagy as well as apoptosis of rCHO cells, rCHO cells producing erythropoietin were subjected to NaBu treatment. NaBu treatment up to 5 mM increased cleaved forms of PARP, caspase-3, and Annexin V positive population, confirming the previous results that NaBu induces apoptosis. Concurrently, NaBu treatment increased the level of accumulation of the autophagic marker, LC3-II, independently of nutrient depletion, suggesting that NaBu induces autophagy. To elucidate the potential role of autophagy induced by NaBu, a representative autophagy inducer (rapamycin) or an inhibitor (bafilomycin A1) was added to cultures together with NaBu. It was found that autophagy had the potential role of a positive cell survival mechanism under NaBu treatment. Furthermore, gradual reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential/mass and recruitment of a mitophagy protein, Parkin, to the mitochondria were observed under NaBu treatment, suggesting that this positive function of autophagy might be mediated by the autophagic removal of damaged mitochondria. Taken together, autophagy was observed in rCHO cell culture under NaBu treatments and the results obtained here support the positive effects of autophagy induced by NaBu treatments.     

H18杂交瘤抗凋亡能力的改造

利用PCR从pGEMTbcl-X_L质粒中获得bcl-X_L基因,构建真核表达载体pEF-bcl-X^{L,脂质体法转染杂交瘤细胞,G418筛选稳定表达株,Western blotting检测目的蛋白表达,流式细胞仪检测Bcl-X_L提高杂交瘤抗正丁酸钠诱导凋亡的功能。 将构建的编码鼠bcl-X_L基因的真核表达载体pEF-bcl-X_L,转染H18细胞后,获得稳定的表达株细胞;稳定表达Bcl-X_L的细胞具有抗正丁酸钠诱导凋亡的功能。鼠bcl-X_L基因在杂交瘤细胞中稳定表达,提高了杂交瘤抗凋亡的能力,对高密度大规模培养杂交瘤细胞具有重要意义。}     

Transient exposure to sodium butyrate after germinal vesicle breakdown improves meiosis but not developmental competence in pig oocytes

Oocyte maturation is a complex process during which epigenetic modifications are dramatically changed, especially histone acetylation and phosphorylation. We have investigated the effects of NaBu (sodium butyrate), a natural HDAC (histone deacetylase) inhibitor, on porcine oocyte maturation at different stages and subsequent embryonic development to improve IVF (in vitro fertilization) and embryo production. COCs (cumulus oocyte complexes) were cultured, IVM (in vitro maturation) supplemented with 1 mM NaBu before or after GVBD [GV (germinal vesicle) breakdown] during maturation. NaBu delayed oocyte meiosis in the GV and GVBD stages in an exposure-dependent manner. However, the short treatment with 1 mM NaBu after GVBD significantly improved the meiotic competence. No positive effects of NaBu on GSH levels and subsequent embryonic development following IVF were seen. Transient exposure to NaBu after GVBD improves meiotic competence, but not subsequently, probably by having an effect on histone acetylation during oocyte maturation.     

Glucose-limited chemostat culture of Chinese hamster ovary cells producing recombinant human interferon-gamma

A Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line expressing recombinant human interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was grown under glucose limitation in a chemostate at a constant dilution rate of 0.015 h(-1) with glucose feed concentrations of 2.75 mM and 4.25 mM. The changes in cell concentration that accompanied changes in the glucose feed concentration indicated that the cells were glucose-limited. The cell yield on glucose remained constant, but there was a decline in residual glucose concentration and a reduced lactate yield from glucose in the latter stages of the culture. The consumption rates for many of the essential amino acids were increased later in the culture. The volumetric rate of interferon-gamma production was maintained throughout the course of this culture, indicating that IFN-gamma expression was stable under these conditions. However, the specific rate of IFN-gamma production was significantly lower at the higher glucose feed concentration. Under glucose limitation, the proportion of fully glycosylated IFN-gamma produced by these cells was less than that produced in the early stages of batch cultures. The proportion of fully glycosylated IFN-gamma increased during transient periods of glucose excess, suggesting that the culture environment influences the glycosylation of IFN-gamma.     

Long-term survival of functional hepatocytes from adult rat in the presence of phenobarbital in primary culture

In the presence of phenobarbital (PB) at 3 mM, hepatocytes isolated from adult rats by a collagenase-perfusion technique survived well on plastic dishes for at least 49 days after initiation of primary culture. PB at concentrations less than 3 mM was ineffective for the maintenance of hepatocytes, and the maintenance of them was attained only in the continuous presence of 3 mM PB. The hepatocytes surviving in the presence of 3 mM PB were morphologically indistinguishable from the hepatocytes after 1-day attachment period, except for the presence of prominent nucleoli in the former. Although both the albumin secretion and tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) activities of the cells decreased gradually up to day 7 with time in culture, both were thereafter maintained at relatively high levels at least up to day 35 of primary culture. The addition of 10 microM dexamethasone caused a 3-5-fold induction in TAT activity, and the cells were capable of responding to the hormone in this manner at least up to day 28 of primary culture. Furthermore, the cells also had glucose-6-phosphatase activity, even though the level of this enzyme activity was relatively low as compared with that of TAT activity. Survival of hepatocytes in the presence of 3 mM PB was further enhanced by simultaneous addition of dexamethasone (10 microM) and insulin (10 micrograms/ml). The sensitivity of hepatocytes to 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (0.24 mM) was remarkably reduced by treatment with PB at 3 mM. PB treatment decreased efficiently the falling rate of total cytochrome P-450 content, but did not induce P-450PB, which is the specific form of cytochrome P-450 induced by PB, in primary cultured hepatocytes. On the other hand, 3-methylcholanthrene (MC, 10 microM) caused an increase of both contents of total cytochrome P-450 and P-450MC, which is the specific form of cytochrome P-450 induced by MC, in primary cultured hepatocytes. However, MC was ineffective for the maintenance of hepatocytes in primary culture. The possible biological actions of PB on primary cultured hepatocytes are discussed on the basis of the experimental data obtained.     

Effects of cholesterol and cAMP on progesterone production in cultured luteal cells isolated from pseudopregnant cat ovaries

The present study was designed to incubate luteal cells isolated from pseudopregnant cats and to investigate the effects of cholesterol and cAMP on luteal progesterone production. Corpora lutea were collected from the cats on days 10 and 15 of pseudopregnancy. Luteal cells were isolated from the ovaries by collagenase digestion. Steroidogenic luteal cells were stained for 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) activity. Cells (2 × 10⁴) staining positive for 3β-HSD were cultured for up to 7 days. The cells were treated with 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol (22R-HC) and dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) on days 1, 3 and 7.Treatment of cells with 22R-HC resulted in a dose-dependent increase (p < 0.001) in progesterone production. When 22R-HC was used at a concentration of 10 μg/ml, it resulted in 2.7- and 5.1-fold increases in progesterone production on days 3 and 5, respectively. When the dose was doubled (20 μg/ml), treated cells produced four times more progesterone on days 3 and 7, and three times more on day 5. By day 7, progesterone production increased up to 9.1 times more than the control.Incubation of cells with both concentrations of dbcAMP (0.1 mM and 1 mM) resulted in significant stimulations of progesterone on days 5 and 7 (p < 0.001). However, on day 3, only higher doses of dbcAMP (1 mM) resulted in significant stimulation (p < 0.05). Progesterone production was increased up to 2- and 2.9-fold of the control when cells were treated with lower concentration of dbcAMP (0.1 mM) on days 5 and 7, respectively. Incubation of cells with 1 mM concentrations of dbcAMP induced a 3.2-fold increase on day 5 and a 5-fold increase on day 7.In conclusion, a successful incubation was performed for long-life culturing of luteal cells collected from pseudopregnant cats. The method works well and allows for optimal growth and development of cells in the culture. The present study also demonstrated that incubating cat luteal cells with 22R-HC and dbcAMP induces a significant increase in luteal progesterone synthesis.     

Magnesium and phosphate enrichment of culture medium stimulates the proliferation of epidermal cells from newborn and adult mice

The proliferation and differentiation of mouse epidermal cells can be sequentially analyzed by modification of extracellular calcium. Newborn cells cultured in low calcium medium (less than 0.1 mM) proliferate as a monolayer and maintain a typical basal cell phenotype in culture but have a limited proliferative capacity and short lifespan. Elevation of the magnesium content of the culture medium from 1 to 5 mM stimulated the proliferation of newborn mouse (1-3 days old) keratinocytes. Maximal DNA synthesis rates, as determined on day 5 of culture, were up to 2-3-fold higher in the magnesium-enriched cultures. Exposure to high magnesium caused 3-4-fold increases in the DNA content of newborn keratinocyte cultures, and extended the confluent phase of epidermal cell growth to over 10 days. Other divalent cations (strontium, copper, zinc, nickel, beryllium, and barium) did not improve keratinocyte growth in culture. Keratinocytes from the tail skin of adult (3 months old) mice displayed an absolute requirement for high phosphate in the culture medium. The medium containing an optimal (10 mM) phosphate concentration prevented the cell detachment caused by the standard low (1 mM) phosphate medium, and in combination with an elevated magnesium content (10-15 mM) it markedly increased both DNA synthesis rates and DNA content of the adult cell cultures. Optimally growing, newborn or adult cultures contained less cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and more cells in S and G2 +M. The addition of phosphate and magnesium per se did not induce keratinocyte differentiation and did not interfere with the high calcium (1 mM)-induced differentiation.