Prevention of hybridoma cell death by bcl-2 during suboptimal culture conditions

TB/C3 hybridoma cells were transected with either pEF-MClneopA or pEF bcl2-MClneopA vectors to produce a control cell line (TB/C3 pEF) and a cell line that overexpresses the "antiapoptotic" human bcl-2 protein (TB/C3 bcl2). Flow cytometry analysis of intracellular bcl-2 protein levels enabled near on-line monitoring of the stability of bcl-2 expression in the absence of drug selection. It was possible to maintain spontaneous selection of cells with the overexpression of bcl-2 protein during semicontinuous cultures at very low dilution rates, where cells were subjected to the selective conditions of nutrient limitation and high toxic metabolite concentrations. Interestingly, cells that overexpressed bcl-2 were adapted to suspension culture conditions significantly faster than control cells. Dual fluorescence staining with acridine orange and propidium iodide allowed for discrimination between viable, apoptotic, secondary necrotic, and necrotic cells, respectively. Compared with the usual trypan blue method of establishing culture viability, dual staining demonstrated that under stressful conditions a significant proportion of cells that excluded trypan blue were also undergoing cell death through apoptosis. In batch cultures the overexpression of bcl-2 more than doubled the membrane intact (MI) cell productive period (the integral of Ml cell density with respect to culture time) and increased the monoclonal antibody (mAb) production by approximately 40% when compared with the control cell line. The overexpression of bcl-2 protein also significantly extended the cell integrity and viability by the suppression of apoptosis in conditions of hypoxia, hyperoxia, glutamine deprivation, glucose deprivation, and serum limitation. The suppression of apoptosis in anaerobic conditions suggests that bcl-2 exerts its antiapoptotic activity by a mechanism that does not involve an oxidative reactive pathway. In conditions of excess thymidine, which suppressed cell proliferation, Ml cell density and specific mAb productivity were further enhanced by the overexpression of bcl-2, which suggests the possibility of accomplishing a controlled proliferation in immortalized cell lines without invoking cell death. Cell size and intracellular mAb were increased for TB/C3 bcl2 cells compared with TB/C3 pEF control cells when analyzed by flow cytometry. (c) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 54: 1-16, 1997.     

Role of vitamins in determining apoptosis and extent of suppression by bcl-2 during hybridoma cell culture

The identification of cell culture media components that may instigate apoptosis in cell lines used for the production of commercial antibodies and recombinant proteins, is crucial to aid the development of improved media for reduced cell death and to understand the role of nutrient components in cell survival and maintenance. Here we determine the impact of depriving all or individual B-group media vitamins either, D-CaPantothenate (DCaP), choline chloride (CC), riboflavin (Rb), i-inositol, nicotinamide (NAM), pyridoxal hydrochloride (PyrHCl), folic acid (FA), or thiamine hydrochloride (ThHCl) on hybridoma cell growth and viability using fluorescence microscopy techniques. Cultivation in media deprived of all these vitamins prevented cell proliferation from reaching maximum capacity while increasing cell death rate, predominantly via apoptosis. Deletion of either DCaP, CC, or Rb showed that these components were most likely responsible for the development of apoptosis. Exclusion of either i-inositol, NAM or PyrHCl failed to inhibit cell growth and viability, while marginal improvements in viability were noted by ThHCl deprivation and more so by FA exclusion. Over-expression of the anti-apoptotic gene bcl-2 suppressed cell death initiated by all or single vitamin (either DCaP, CC or Rb) deprivation. The involvement of bcl-2 activity, established a close association between small vitamin molecules particularly DCaP, CC or Rb and the biochemical activation of apoptosis.     

bcl-2高表达细胞株的构建

利用基因转染技术,将人的bcl-2基因cDNA克隆于逆转录病毒载体pLXSN,通过PA317细胞包装成病毒后感染HeLa细胞。经PCR及蛋白质印迹证明转染成功,得到bcl-2稳定高表达株Hbc17。用顺铂诱导凋亡,Hbc17比对照细胞株H1具有明显的抗凋亡能力。为进一步研究顺铂诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡的机理奠定基础。     

Glycosaminoglycan and growth factor mediated murine calvarial cell proliferation

Summary Understanding the complex mechanisms underlying bone remodeling is crucial to the development of novel therapeutics. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) localised to the extracellular matrix (ECM) of bone are thought to play a key role in mediating aspects of bone development. The influence of isolated GAGs was studied by utilising in vitro murine calvarial monolayer and organ culture model systems. Addition of GAG preparations extracted from the cell surface of human osteoblasts at high concentrations (5 μg/ml) resulted in decreased proliferation of cells and decreased suture width and number of bone lining cells in calvarial sections. When we investigated potential interactions between the growth factors fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2), bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP2) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) and the isolated cell surface GAGs, differences between the two model systems emerged. The cell culture system demonstrated a potentiating role for the isolated GAGs in the inhibition of FGF2 and TGFβ1 actions. In contrast, the organ culture system demonstrated an enhanced stimulation of TFGβ1 effects. These results emphasise the role of the ECM in mediating the interactions between GAGs and growth factors during bone development and suggest the GAG preparations contain potent inhibitory or stimulatory components able to mediate growth factor activity. Kerry J. Manton and Larisa M. Haupt—Co-first authors.     

Influence of bcl-2 on antibody productivity in high cell density perfusion cultures of hybridoma

Apoptosis is an active, genetically determined death mechanism which can be induced by a wide range of physiological factors and by mild stress. It is the predominant form of cell death during the production of antibodies from murine hybridoma cell lines. A number of studies have now demonstrated that the suppression of this death pathway, by means of over-expression of survival genes such as bcl-2, results in improved cellular robustness and antibody productivity during batch culture. In the present study, the influence of bcl-2 expression on hybridoma productivity in two high density perfusion bioreactor systems was investigated. In the first system, a fixed-bed reactor, the DNA content in the spent medium was 25% higher in the control (TB/C3-pEF) culture than that found in the bcl-2 transfected (TB/C3-bcl2) cultures at all perfusion rates. This is indicative of a higher level of cell death in the control cell line. The average antibody concentration for the TB/C3-pEF cell line was 14.9 mg L-1 at perfusion rates of 2.6 and 5.2 d-1. However, for the TB/C3-bcl2 cell line it was 33 mg L-1 at dilution rates of 2 and 4 d-1. A substantial increase in antibody concentration was also found in the Integra Tecnomouse hollow fibre reactor. The antibody titre in the TB/C3-bcl2 cassette was nearly 100% higher than that in the TB/C3-pEF cassette during the cultivation period which lasted 6 weeks. Clearly, these results demonstrate the positive impact of bcl-2 over-expression on production of antibody in hybridoma perfusion cultures. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

G protein mediated signaling pathways in lysophospholipid induced cell proliferation and survival

Agonist activation of a subset of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) stimulates cell proliferation, mimicking the better known effects of tyrosine kinase growth factors. Cell survival or apoptosis is also regulated via pathways initiated by stimulation of these same GPCRs. This review focuses on aspects of signaling by the lysophospholipid mediators, lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), and sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P), which make these agonists uniquely capable of modulating cell growth and survival. The general features of GPCR coupling to specific G proteins, downstream effectors and signaling cascades are first reviewed. GPCR coupling to G(i) and Ras/MAPK or to G(q) and phospholipase generated second messengers are insufficient to regulate cell proliferation while G(12/13)/Rho engagement provides additional complementary signals required for cell proliferation. Survival is best predicted by coupling to G(i) pathways that regulate PI3K and Akt, but other signals generated through different G protein pathways are also implicated. The unique ability of LPA and S1P to concomitantly stimulate G(i), G(q), and G(12/13) pathways, given the proper complement of expressed LPA or S1P receptors, allows these receptors to support cell survival and proliferation. In pathophysiological situations, e.g., vascular disease, cancer, brain injury, and inflammation, components of the signaling cascade downstream of lysophospholipid receptors, in particular those involving Ras or Rho, may be altered. In addition, up or downregulation of LPA or S1P receptor subtypes, altering their ratio, and increased availability of the lysophospholipid ligands at sites of injury or inflammation, likely contribute to disease and may be important targets for therapeutic intervention.     

Growth factor production and autocrine mechanism of cell proliferation regulation in the RPMI-6410t lymphoblastoid line

The human lymphoblastoid B-cell line RPMI-6410t was found to synthesize and secrete into the growth medium a factor necessary to maintain the reproduction of these cells. In the condition of low plating density (concentration 1-1000 cells per ml) cell proliferation can be maintained only in the presence of a definite dose of medium conditioned by 6410t cell growth under high concentration. Using such a medium guaranteed almost 100% cloning efficiency of these cells by the method of limiting dilutions. The cloning of 6410t cells in the presence of feeder cells, such as mouse splenocytes and peritoneal cells, failed. The 6410t cells were shown to bind specifically the growth factor secreted by them, thus suggesting the presence of a growth factor acceptor on their surface. With the help of special selective method some clones were derived which did not secrete growth factor but were likely to have growth factor acceptors on their surface. A comparison of growth properties of clones GF- and GF+ supported the idea of autocrine control of proliferation as one of the mechanisms of malignant cell transformation.     

Glycosylation of an immunoglobulin produced from a murine hybridoma cell line: the effect of culture mode and the anti-apoptotic gene, bcl-2

The impact of bcl-2 over-expression on the glycosylation pattern of an antibody produced by a bcl-2 transfected hybridoma cell line (TB/C3.bcl-2) was investigated in suspension batch, continuous and high cell density culture (Flat hollow fibre, Tecnomouse system). In all culture modes bcl-2 over-expression resulted in higher cell viability. Analysis of the glycans from the IgG of batch cultures showed that >95% of the structures were neutral core fucosylated asialo biantennary oligosaccharides with variable terminal galactosylation (G0f, G1f and G2f) consistent with previous analysis of glycans from the conserved site at Asn-297 of the IgG protein. The galactosylation index (GI) was determined as an indicator of the glycan profile (=(G2 + 0.5* G1)/(G0 + G1 + G2)). GI values in control cultures were comparable to bcl-2 cultures during exponential growth (0.53) but declined toward the end of the culture when there was a loss in cell viability. Low dilution rates in chemostat culture were associated with reduced galactosylation of the IgG glycans in both cell lines. However, at the higher dilution rates the GI for IgG was consistently higher in the TB/C3.bcl-2 cultures. In the hollow fibre bioreactor the galactosylation of the IgG glycans was considerably lower than in suspension batch or continuous cultures with GI values averaging 0.38. Similar low galactosylation values have been found previously for high density cell cultures and these are consistent with the low values obtained when the dissolved oxygen level is maintained at a low value (10%) in controlled suspension cultures of hybridomas.     

Establishment of a human T cell hybridoma cell line producing suppressor factor specific for anti-thyroglobulin antibody production

Thyroglobulin (Tg)-binding peripheral blood T cells from a normal individual were fused with a T cell leukemia cell line (Jurkat-AG9) treated by emetine and actinomycin D. Several cell lines were established from thus-prepared human T cell hybridomas. The culture supernatant from one of these lines (Tg-Ts47) whose phenotype was OKT3- 11+ 4+ 8- suppressed the generation of Tg-specific antibody-forming cells from the lymphocytes of patients with Hashimotos' chronic thyroiditis, but not anti-SRBC and anti-ovalbumin antibody production from both autologous and patient lymphocytes. Tg-Ts47-derived factors also bore Tg antigen-binding sites. The suppressive activity of the supernatants was shown in almost all patients lymphocytes tested. This indicated that the supernatants of Tg-Ts47 line contain a suppressive factor specific for Tg antigen and capable of acting across allogeneic barriers.     

Role of Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+ ions in determining apoptosis and extent of suppression afforded by bcl-2 during hybridoma cell culture

We have addressed the possibility that Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and K⁺ ions play a central role in governing the morphological and biochemical changes attributed to apoptotic cell death. By removing Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ or K⁺ ions from the cell culture medium we were able to assess the contribution of each ion to hybridoma cell growth and viability. The differences were explained in terms of a possible reduction in their respective intracellular levels. From several lines of evidence, the deprivation of K⁺ ions was the most detrimental to cellular growth and viability and induced significant levels of early apoptotic cells. Another effect of this deprivation was to weaken the plasma membranes without causing membrane breakdown; exposure to high agitation rates confirmed fragility of the cell membranes. Removal of Mg²⁺ caused a reduction in the levels of early apoptotic cells and predisposed cells to high levels of primary necrotic death. The lower levels of apoptotic cells failed to demonstrate the classic nuclear morphology associated with apoptosis, while retaining other apoptotic features. These results highlighted the importance of utilizing several assays for the determination of apoptosis. The absence of Ca²⁺ appeared to be the mildest insult, but its deprivation did accelerate a significant decline in culture by increasing apoptotic death. Hybridoma cells overexpressing the apoptotic suppresser gene bcl-2 were protected from the predominantly necrosis inducing effects of Mg²⁺ ion deprivation and apoptosis inducing effects of Ca²⁺ ion deprivation. However, apoptosis was not as effectively suppressed in bcl-2 cells responding to incubation in K⁺ free medium. The inclusion of bcl-2 activity in the mechanisms of Ca²⁺ Mg²⁺ or K⁺ deprivation induced cell death emphasizes a close relationship between ionic dissipation and the apoptotic process.     

Characterization and fed-batch culture of hybridoma overexpressing apoptosis suppressing gene bcl-2

Mouse hybridoma 2E3 transfected with human bcl-2 gene survived longer with increasing expression level of bcl-2 when cultured in DME medium supplemented with 9% serum. One of the transfectants, 2E3BCMGbcl-2, overexpressed bcl-2 and could maintain viable cell density higher than the initial density for more than four days at a low 0.5% serum concentration. In comparison a mock transfectant 2E3BCMG remained viable for only one day. However, both hybridomas died out within a day in serum-free medium. These results suggested that bcl-2 needed a small amount of some serum components to suppress apoptosis of the hybridoma. Overexpression of bcl-2 also suppressed apoptosis of the hybridoma induced by glutamine deprivation. When hybridoma 2E3BCMGbcl-2 was inoculated in DME medium supplemented with 9% serum and cultured for 10 d with additional 2% serum feed at day 4 of the culture, viable cell density increased 2-fold and antibody produced 3-fold, in comparison with mock transfected 2E3 cultured in the same manner. The mock transfectant with additional feed of serum at day 4 of the culture showed no difference in viable cell density and antibody production. These results suggested that the mock transfectant committed to apoptosis before day 4 of the culture and the additional serum at day 4 could not reverse the commitment. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

bcl-2-immunoglobulin transgenic mice demonstrate extended B cell survival and follicular lymphoproliferation

Human follicular B cell lymphomas possess a t(14;18) interchromosomal translocation that juxtaposes the putative proto-oncogene bcl-2 with the immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain locus. We generated minigene constructs representing the bcl-2-Ig fusion gene found at this chromosomal breakpoint. These constructs were placed into the germ line of mice to assess the effects of the t(14;18) during development. The transgene demonstrates a lymphoid pattern of expression and uniformly results in an expanded follicular center cell population. Hyperplastic splenic follicles coalesce to form massive regions of splenic white pulp. Mice over 15 weeks of age demonstrate regional lymphadenopathy with abnormal cellular infiltrates. The expanded lymphoid compartment is composed predominantly of polyclonal B220-positive, IgM/IgD-positive B cells. Provocatively, the bcl-2-Ig transgene confers a survival advantage to a population of mature B cells assessed in vitro. bcl-2-Ig transgenic mice document a prospective role for the t(14;18) in B cell growth and the pathogenesis of follicular lymphoma.     

Influence of bcl-2 on cell death during the cultivation of a Chinese hamster ovary cell line expressing a chimeric antibody

The influence of Bcl-2 expression on the robustness of a CHO cell line (22H11) developed for the industrial production of a chimeric antibody was evaluated. Western blot analysis following transfection with the expression vector unexpectedly revealed upregulation of endogenous Bcl-2 expression in the control (Neo) cell line in response to exposure to the selection drug G418. This indicated that geneticin may function by inducing apoptosis in cells not carrying the control plasmid or expressing very low levels of survival genes. Thus, exposure to the drug enriched the culture for a population of cells which expressed enhanced levels of endogenous Bcl-2. In batch cultures, ectopic bcl-2 expression resulted in a 75% increase in maximum viable cell density over control cultures. Moreover, the rate of decrease in viability in the Bcl-2 cultures was significantly lower than that in the control cultures. After 18 days, the Bcl-2 viability was around 90%, compared to 20% in the control cultures. Evaluation of the mechanism of cell death revealed very few cells with classical apoptotic morphology. Around 10% were clearly necrotic, but the majority of dead cells were seen as chromatin free but otherwise relatively intact structures. Because of the relatively low rate of cell death in both cell lines, few cells were observed in the transitional, easily identifiable early stages of apoptosis. However, DNA gel electrophoresis revealed a clear ladder-pattern, but only in the control cultures, thus confirming high levels of apoptotic death. Antibody concentrations during both sets of cultures were very similar, both during the growth and death phases, with a maximum titer of around 40 microgram/ml. Analysis of Bcl-2 expression by flow cytometry revealed that the cultures contained two populations of cells: a large population which expressed high levels of Bcl-2 and a relatively smaller low-expressing population. During the course of the batch, the smaller, low-expressing population declined in frequency, suggesting that these cells were more sensitive to cell death. In addition, the mean level of Bcl-2 expression in the overexpressing population also declined significantly, presumably reflecting the exhaustion of precursors for protein synthesis following nutrient depletion. Importantly, when cells were taken from day 40 of the significantly extended Bcl-2 batch cultures, they immediately proliferated, confirming that they had retained their replicative potential. Cultivation of the cells in basal medium lacking (individually) serum, all amino acids, glutamate/asparagine, and, finally, glucose, resulted in relatively lower viable cell numbers and viability in the control cell line compared to the Bcl-2 cell line. Exposure of cells to ammonia toxicity also revealed the relative robustness of the bcl-2 transfected cells. When growth was arrested by treatment with 4 mM thymidine, Bcl-2 overexpressing cells exhibit a viability of over 80% after 5 days in culture, compared to only 40% in the control cell line. However, under growth-arrested conditions, there was no major difference in antibody titer between the two cell lines.     

A mathematical model of the cell cycle of a hybridoma cell line

A one-dimensional age-based population balance model of the cell cycle is proposed for a mouse-mouse hybridoma cell line (mm321) producing immunoglobulin G antibody to paraquat. It includes the four conventional cell cycle phases, however, G1 is divided into two parts (G1a and G1b). Two additional phases have been added, a non-cycling state G1', and a pre-death phase D. The duration of these additional phases is determined by cumulative glutamine content and ammonia concentration, respectively. It is assumed that glutamine is only consumed during G1 and antibody is only produced during G1b and S, the kinetics are assumed to be zero-order. Glucose is consumed throughout the cell cycle at a rate that is dependent upon its prevalent concentration. Ammonia and lactate are produced in direct proportion to glutamine and glucose consumption, respectively. Parameters in the model have been determined from experimental data or from fitting the model to post-synchronisation data. The model thus fitted has been used to successfully predict this cell lines behaviour in conventional batch culture at different initial glutamine concentrations, and in chemostat culture at steady-state and in response to a glutamine pulse. The model predicts viable cell, glutamine, glucose and lactate kinetics well, but there are some discrepancies in the prediction for ammonia and antibody. Overall, the results obtained support the assumptions made in the model relating to the regulation of cell cycle progression. It is concluded that this approach has the potential to be exploited with other cell lines and used in a model-based control scheme.     

Induction of cell proliferation by a migration factor released from a transformed cell line

A protein released by an invasive tumour cell line (SV28) was purified. It then had 20000 times the activity of serum in stimulating the migration of 3T3 cells. At each step in the purification there was a parallel activity that stimulated proliferation of 3T3 cells. The purified material was shown to stimulate proliferation of normal 3T3 cells at low serum concentrations where only transformed 3T3 cells proliferate and to stimulate the growth of 3T3 cultures to above their normal saturation density. The one substance could therefore account for the growth and the invasiveness of the SV28 cells. At limiting dilution of the protein only the cells along the edge of a wounded monolayer incorporate [³H]TdR. The significance of this edge effect to contact inhibition and the possible role of the diffusion boundary layer are discussed.     

Growth factor regulation of cell growth and proliferation in the nervous system

This article discusses a novel intracrine mechanism of growth-factor action in the nervous system whereby fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and its receptor accumulate in the cell nucleus and act as mediators in the control of cell growth and proliferation. In human and rat brain the levels and subcellular localization of FGF-2 differ between quiescent and reactive astrocytes. Quiescent cells express a low level of FGF-2, which is located predominantly within the cytoplasm. In reactive astrocytes, the expression of FGF-2 increases and the proteins are found in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. In glioma tumors, FGF-2 is overexpressed in the nuclei of neoplastic cells. Similar changes in FGF-2 expression and localization are found in vitro. The nuclear accumulation of FGF-2 reflects a transient activation of the FGF-2 gene by potentially novel transactivating factors interacting with an upstream regulatory promoter region. In parallel with FGF-2, the nuclei of astrocytes contain the high-affinity FGF-2 receptor, FGFR1. Nuclear FGFR1 is full length, retains kinase activity, and is localized within the nuclear interior in association with the nuclear matrix. Transfection of either FGF-2 or FGFR1 into cells that do not normally express these proteins results in their nuclear accumulation and concomitant increases in cell proliferation. A similar regulation of nuclear FGF-2 and FGFR1 is observed in neural crest-derived adrenal medullary cells and of FGF-2 in the nuclei of cerebellar neurons. Thus, the regulation of the nuclear content of FGF-2 and FGFR1 could serve as a novel mechanism controlling growth and proliferation of glial and neuronal cells.     

Growth factor production by a human megakaryocytic tumor cell line

A recently described human megakaryocytic tumor cell line was analyzed for the presence of growth factor activity and was found to produce large quantities of transforming growth factor beta-like (TGF-beta) and basic fibroblast growth factor-like (bFGF) activities. Growth factor activities were identified using a radioreceptor assay for the TGF-beta-like activity, a heparin-binding assay for the b-FGF-like activity, and a demonstration of distinct biological activities for each type of factor. Tumor poly-A+ RNA revealed strong signals when probed with complementary DNA corresponding to bovine basic FGF and human TGF-beta and weak signals when probed with cDNA corresponding to epidermal growth factor (EGF) and TGF-alpha. The levels of EGF and TGF-alpha produced in the tumor line were too low to be detected by radioreceptor assays. Relative levels of messenger RNA encoding each of the growth factors reflected the relative levels of each of the respective factors tested. These data represent the first definitive identification of FGF-like activities in megakaryocytic-like cell lines. Interestingly, the line displayed little activity similar to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) when assayed either biochemically or by poly-A+ RNA analysis.     

抗人内皮抑素单克隆抗体杂交瘤细胞的制备及筛选

用亲和层析纯化的酵母表达重组人内皮抑素为抗原,经皮下多点注射免疫Balb/c小鼠,鼠抗血清效价达到1：10000,选免疫效果最好的小鼠,取其脾细胞用PEG法与同系骨髓瘤细胞（SP2／0）融合,通过间接ELISA法对杂交瘤细胞进行筛选,对阳性孔进行有限稀稀,经3次亚克隆获得4株阳性杂交瘤细胞。     

抗TPO单克姓抗体杂交瘤细胞系的建立

用合成肽TPO作抗原,经腹腔免疫Bal b/c小鼠,鼠抗血清效价为1：1000,ELISA间接法测定的P／N值为3。取小鼠脾细胞与骨髓瘤细胞（SP2／10）在PEG作用下进行融合,细胞融合率达91％。通过ELISA筛选并经过3次亚克隆,获得了1株能分泌抗TPO抗体的单克姓杂交瘤细胞株,P／N值均高于8。