Adaptation of Chinese hamster ovary cells to low culture temperature: cell growth and recombinant protein production

Recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cells producing erythropoietin (EPO) and rCHO cells producing follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) showed a significant increase in specific productivity (q) when grown at 32 degrees C compared to 37 degrees C. However, low culture temperature suppressed cell growth, and therefore, did not increase volumetric productivity as much as q. In an attempt to increase the volumetric productivity through improvement of hypothermic growth, EPO producing rCHO (CHO-EPO) cells and FSH producing rCHO (CHO-FSH) cells were adapted at 32 degrees C in a repeated batch mode using spinner flasks. Cell growth of both CHO-EPO and CHO-FSH gradually improved during adaptation at 32 degrees C. Specific growth rates of CHO-EPO and CHO-FSH cells at 32 degrees C, through adaptation, were increased by 73% and 20%, respectively. During adaptation at 32 degrees C, mRNA levels of cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) of both rCHO cell lines did not change significantly, suggesting that CIRP expression may not be the only cause for growth suppression at low culture temperature. Unlike cell growth, the recombinant protein production of both rCHO cell lines was not increased during adaptation due to decreased specific productivities. The specific EPO productivity and specific FSH productivity were decreased by 49% and 22%, respectively. Southern blot analyses showed that the decreased specific productivities were not due to the loss of foreign gene copies. Taken together, improvement of hypothermic cell growth by adaptation does not appear to be applicable for enhanced recombinant protein production, since specific productivity decreases during adaptation to the low culture temperature.     

Enhancing effect of low culture temperature on specific antibody productivity of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cells: clonal variation

To understand the different responses of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cells to low culture temperature regarding specific productivity (q), 12 parental clones and their corresponding amplified clones producing a humanized antibody were cultivated at 32 and 37 degrees C. The specific growth rate of all clones, including both parental and amplified clones, decreased by 30-63% at 32 degrees C, compared to rates at 37 degrees C. In contrast, their specific antibody productivity (qAb) was significantly enhanced at 32 degrees C. Furthermore, the degree of qAb enhancement at 32 degrees C varied a lot from 4- to 25-fold among the parental clones. At 32 degrees C, most of the amplified clones, regardless of methotrexate (MTX) levels, also showed enhanced qAb but to a lesser extent than their parental clones. However, clone 14 amplified at 0.32 microM MTX (clone 14-0.32) and clone 20 amplified at 1 microM MTX (clone 20-1.00), unlike their parental clones, did not show enhanced qAb at 32 degrees C. Thus, it was found that the enhancing effect of low culture temperature on q of rCHO cells depends on clones. Taken together, the results obtained here emphasize the importance of clonal selection for the successful application of low culture temperature to the enhanced foreign protein production in rCHO cells.     

Effect of culture pH on erythropoietin production by Chinese hamster ovary cells grown in suspension at 32.5 and 37.0 degrees C

To investigate the effect of culture pH in the range of 6.85-7.80 on cell growth and erythropoietin (EPO) production at 32.5 and 37.0 degrees C, serum-free suspension cultures of recombinant CHO cells (rCHO) were performed in a bioreactor with pH control. Lowering culture temperature from 37.0 to 32.5 degrees C suppressed cell growth, but cell viability remained high for a longer culture period. Regardless of culture temperature, the highest specific growth rate (mu) and maximum viable cell concentration were obtained at pH values of 7.00 and 7.20, respectively. Like mu, the specific consumption rates of glucose and glutamine decreased at 32.5 degrees C compared to 37.0 degrees C. In addition, they increased with increasing culture pH. Culture pH at 32.5 degrees C affected specific EPO productivity (q(EPO)) in a different fashion from that at 37 degrees C. At 37 degrees C, the q(EPO) was fairly constant in the pH range of 6.85-7.80, while at 32.5 degrees C, the q(EPO) was significantly influenced by culture pH. The highest q(EPO) was obtained at pH 7.00 and 32.5 degrees C, and its value was approximately 1.5-fold higher than that at pH 7.00 and 37.0 degrees C. The proportion of acidic EPO isoforms, which is a critical factor for high in vivo biological activity of EPO, was highest in the stationary phase of growth, regardless of culture temperature and pH. Although cell viability rapidly decreased in death phase at both 32.5 and 37.0 degrees C, the significant degradation of produced EPO, probably by the action of proteases released from lysed cells, was observed only at 37.0 degrees C. Taken together, through the optimization of culture temperature and pH, a 3-fold increase in maximum EPO concentration and a 1.4-fold increase in volumetric productivity were obtained at pH 7.00 and 32.5 degrees C when compared with those at 37.0 degrees C. These results demonstrate the importance of optimization of culture temperature and pH for enhancing EPO production in serum-free, suspension culture of rCHO cells.     

Cirp protects against tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced apoptosis via activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase

Mild hypothermia shows protective effects on patients with brain damage and cardiac arrest. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects, we analyzed the effects of low culture temperature (32 degrees C) and cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (Cirp) expression on apoptosis in vitro. In BALB/3T3 cells treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and cycloheximide, the down-shift in temperature from 37 degrees C to 32 degrees C increased the expression of Cirp and suppressed the apoptosis. Activation of caspase-8 was suppressed, and the level of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was increased. Transduction of Cirp into the Cirp-deficient mouse fibroblasts increased the level of phosphorylated ERK and suppressed the TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis both at 37 degrees C and 32 degrees C. The ERK-specific inhibitor PD98059 decreased the cytoprotective effect of Cirp as well as that of low culture temperature. These data suggest that mild hypothermia protects cells from TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis, at least partly, via induction of Cirp, and that Cirp protects cells by activating the ERK pathway.     

Application of a cell-once-through perfusion strategy for production of recombinant antibody from rCHO cells in a Centritech Lab II centrifuge system

Based upon the results of scale-down intermittent perfusion processes, a cell-once-through (COT) perfusion concept was applied to a dual bioreactor system coupled to a Centritech Lab II centrifuge for culture of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cells for monoclonal antibody production. In this new culture mode, i.e., the COT perfusion process, total spent medium was transferred to the centrifuge and a fixed percentage was removed. Approximately 99% of the viable cells are transferred to another bioreactor filled with fresh medium by single operation of the Centritech Lab II centrifuge system for about 30 min. Accordingly, a significant reduction of the cell-passage frequency to the centrifuge led to minimization of cell damage caused by mechanical shear stress, oxygen limitation, nutrient limitation, and low temperature outside the bioreactor. The effects of culture temperature shift and fortified medium on cell growth and recombinant antibody production in the COT perfusion process were investigated. Although the suppressive effects of low culture temperature on cell growth led to a loss of stability in a long-term COT perfusion culture system, the average antibody concentration at 33 degrees C was 157.8 mg/L, approximately 2.4-fold higher than that at 37 degrees C. By the use of a fortified medium at 37 degrees C, rCHO cells were maintained at high density above 1.2 x 10(7) cells/mL, and antibody was produced continuously in a range of 260-280 mg/L in a stable long-term COT perfusion culture. The proposed new culture mode, the COT perfusion approach, guarantees the recovery of rCHO cells damaged by lowered temperature or high lactate and ammonium concentration. It will be an attractive choice for minimization of cell damage and stable long-term antibody production with high cell density.     

Introduction of wild-type p53 in a human ovarian cancer cell line not expressing endogenous p53.

Utilizing a temperature sensitive p53 mutant (pLTRp53cGval135) which expresses mutant p53 at 37 degrees C and a wild-type like p53 at 32 degrees C, we transfected a human ovarian cancer cell line (SKOV3) which does not express endogenous p53. Among the different clones obtained, we selected three clones. Two were obtained from simultaneous transfection of p53 and neomycin resistance expression plasmids (SK23a and SK9), the other was obtained from transfection experiments utilizing the neomycin resistance gene only (SKN). Introduction of mutant p53 did not alter the morphology or growth characteristics of this ovarian cancer cell line. Upon shifting to the permissive temperature, a dramatic change in morphology and growth rate was observed in SK23a and SK9 cells that is associated with the presence of a wild-type like p53. SKN and SKOV3 cells maintained at 32 degrees C did not change morphology and only slightly reduced proliferation. Both SK23a and SK9 cells did not show evidence of apoptosis when measured up to 72 hours of maintenance at 32 degrees C. In contrast to what observed in other cell lines, SK23a and SK9 cells maintained at 32 degrees C were not blocked in G1, but they were accumulated in G2-M. This accumulation was transient and could be due either to a blockade or to a delay in the G2 progression. No down-regulation of c-myc was observed in p53 expressing clones when shifted to the permissive temperature. In these conditions gadd45 mRNA expression was highly stimulated in SK9 and SK23a cells but not in SKN cells. In both clones Gas1 mRNA was not detected either at 37 degrees C or 32 degrees C. This system represents a new and useful model for studying the effect of the absence of p53 (SKOV3 or SKN), presence of mutated p53 (SK23a and SK9 kept at 37 degrees C) or wild type p53 (SK23a and SK9 kept at 32 degrees C) on the mechanism of response of cancer cells to DNA damaging agents.     

Cold shock response in mammalian cells

Compared to bacteria and plants, the cold shock response has attracted little attention in mammals except in some areas such as adaptive thermogenesis, cold tolerance, storage of cells and organs, and recently, treatment of brain damage and protein production. At the cellular level, some responses of mammalian cells are similar to microorganisms; cold stress changes the lipid composition of cellular membranes, and suppresses the rate of protein synthesis and cell proliferation. Although previous studies have mostly dealt with temperatures below 20 degrees C, mild hypothermia (32 degrees C) can change the cell's response to subsequent stresses as exemplified by APG-1, a member of the HSP110 family. Furthermore, 32 degrees C induces expression of CIRP (cold-inducible RNA-binding protein), the first cold shock protein identified in mammalian cells, without recovery at 37 degrees C. Remniscent of HSP, CIRP is also expressed at 37 degrees C and developmentary regulated, possibly working as an RNA chaperone. Mammalian cells are metabolically active at 32 degrees C, and cells may survive and respond to stresses with different strategies from those at 37 degrees C. Cellular and molecular biology of mammalian cells at 32 degrees C is a new area expected to have considerable implications for medical sciences and possibly biotechnology.     

Maximizing interferon-gamma production by Chinese hamster ovary cells through temperature shift optimization: experimental and modeling

The Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line producing interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) exhibits a 2-fold increase in specific productivity when grown at 32 degrees C compared to 37 degrees C. Low temperature also causes growth arrest, meaning that the cell density is significantly lower at 32 degrees C, nutrients are consumed at a slower rate and the batch culture can be run for a longer period of time prior to the onset of cell death. At the end of the batch, product concentration is doubled at the low temperature. However, the batch time is nearly doubled as well, and this causes volumetric productivity to only marginally improve by using low temperature. One approach to alleviate the problem of slow growth at low temperature is to utilize a biphasic process, wherein cells are cultured at 37 degrees C for a period of time in order to obtain reasonably high cell density and then the temperature is shifted to 32 degrees C to achieve high specific productivity. Using this approach, it is hypothesized that IFN-gamma volumetric productivity would be maximized. We developed and validated a model for predicting the optimal point in time at which to shift the culture temperature from 37 degrees C to 32 degrees C. It was found that by shifting the temperature after 3 days of growth, the IFN-gamma volumetric productivity is increased by 40% compared to growth and production at 32 degrees C and by 90% compared to 37 degrees C, without any decrease in total production relative to culturing at 32 degrees C alone. The modeling framework presented here is applicable for optimizing controlled proliferation processes in general.     

Differences in optimal pH and temperature for cell growth and antibody production between two Chinese hamster ovary clones derived from the same parental clone

To investigate clonal variations of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) clones in response to culture pH and temperature, serum-free suspension cultures of two antibody-producing CHO clones (clones A and B), which were isolated from the same parental clone by the limiting dilution method, were performed in a bioreactor at pH values in the range of 6.8-7.6, and two different temperatures, 33 degrees C and 37 degrees C. In regard to cell growth, clone A and clone B displayed similar responses to temperature, although their degree of response differed. In contrast, clones A and B displayed different responses to temperature in regard to antibody production. In the case of clone A, no significant increase in maximum antibody concentration was achieved by lowering the culture temperature. The maximum antibody concentration obtained at 33 degrees C (pH 7.4) and 37 degrees C (pH 7.0) were 82.0 +/- 2.6 and 73.2 +/- 4.1 microg/ml, respectively. On the other hand, in the case of clone B, an approximately 2.5-fold increase in maximum antibody concentration was achieved by lowering the culture temperature. The enhanced maximum antibody concentration of clone B at 33 degrees C (132.6 +/- 14.9 microg/ml at pH 7.2) was due to not only enhanced specific antibody productivity but also to prolonged culture longevity. At 33 degrees C, the culture longevity of clone A also improved, but not as much as that of clone B. Taken together, CHO clones derived from the same parental clone displayed quite different responses to culture temperature and pH with regards antibody production, suggesting that environmental parameters such as temperature and pH should be optimized for each CHO clone.     

Initial identification of low temperature and culture stage induction of miRNA expression in suspension CHO-K1 cells

This paper describes the first miRNA analysis carried out on hamster cells specifically Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells which are the most important cell line for the manufacture of human recombinant biopharmaceutical products. During biphasic culture, an initial phase of rapid cell growth at 37 degrees C is followed by a growth arrest phase induced through reduction of the culture temperature. Growth arrest is associated with many positive phenotypes including increased productivity, sustained viability and an extended production phase. Using miRNA bioarrays generated with probes against human, mouse and rat miRNAs, we have identified 26 differentially expressed miRNAs in CHO-K1 when comparing cells undergoing exponential growth at 37 degrees C to stationary phase cells at 31 degrees C. Five miRNAs were selected for qRT-PCR analysis using specific primer sets to isolate and amplify mature miRNAs. During this analysis, two known growth inhibitory miRNAs, miR-21 and miR-24 were identified as being upregulated during stationary phase growth induced either by temperature shift or during normal batch culture by both bioarray and qRT-PCR. Sequence data confirmed the identity of cgr-miR-21, a novel Cricetulus griseus ortholog of the known miRNA miR-21. This study offers a novel insight into the potential of miRNA regulation of CHO-K1 growth and may provide novel approaches to rational engineering of both cell lines and culture processes to ensure optimal conditions for recombinant protein production.     

Cytokines inhibit p53-mediated apoptosis but not p53-mediated G1 arrest.

Murine erythroleukemia cells that lack endogenous p53 expression were transfected with a temperature-sensitive p53 allele. The temperature-sensitive p53 protein behaves as a mutant polypeptide at 37 degrees C and as a wild-type polypeptide at 32 degrees C. Three independent clones expressing the temperature-sensitive p53 protein were characterized with respect to p53-mediated G1 cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and differentiation. Clone ts5.203 responded to p53 activation at 32 degrees C by undergoing G1 arrest, apoptosis, and differentiation. Apoptosis was seen in cells representative of all phases of the cell cycle and was not restricted to cells arrested in G1. The addition of a cytokine (erythropoietin, c-kit ligand, or interleukin-3) to the culture medium of ts5.203 cells blocked p53-mediated apoptosis and differentiation but not p53-mediated G1 arrest. These observations indicate that apoptosis and G1 arrest can be effectively uncoupled through the action of cytokines acting as survival factors and are consistent with the idea that apoptosis and G1 arrest represent separate functions of p53. Clones ts15.15 and tsCB3.4 responded to p53 activation at 32 degrees C by undergoing G1 arrest but not apoptosis. We demonstrate that tsCB3.4 secretes a factor with erythropoietin-like activity and that ts15.15 secretes a factor with interleukin-3 activity and suggest that autocrine secretion of these cytokines blocks p53-mediated apoptosis. These data provide a framework in which to understand the variable responses of cells to p53 overexpression.     

Cell culture factors influencing in vitro expression of mouse mammary tumor virus.

Several cell culture factors were found to influence in vitro expression of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) in the mouse adenocarcinoma cell line Mm5mt/c1. Cells were propagated in a variety of commercially available cell culture media to which dexamethasone (DXM) was added as a stimulator of MMTV production. Culture seeding density, culture medium type, and glucose concentration each influenced MMTV production when expressed on a per cell basis. Maximum cell growth occurred in cultures grown in RPMI-1640 medium containing insulin. Those media which provided good cell growth were not necessarily optimal for virus expression. Addition of insulin did not stimulate MMTV synthesis although dexamethasone alone was stimulatory in all media used; however, maximum MMTV expression was obtained when dexamethasone and insulin were used in concert. Equivalent levels of MMTV-specific cell membrane antigen, MMTV-specific protein, and virus particles were produced at incubation temperatures of 32 degrees, 34 degrees or 37 degrees C; however, higher levels of virus-related RNA-dependent DNA polymerase (RDDP) activity were recovered from cultures incubated at 32 degrees and 34 degrees C than at 37 degrees C. Decreased levels of RDDP were attributed to enzyme thermolability at 37 degrees C incubation.     

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.     

Regulation of thyroidal inducibility of Na,K-ATPase and binding of epidermal growth factor in wild-type and cold-sensitive E1a mutant type 5 adenovirus-transformed CREF cells

We have analyzed the relationship between expression of the transformed phenotype and thyroid hormone (triiodothyronine, T3) inducibility of Na,K-ATPase and binding of 125I-epidermal growth factor (EGF) to cell membrane receptors in wild-type (wt) and mutant type 5 adenovirus (Ad5)-transformed CREF cells displaying a cold-sensitive (cs) expression of the transformed phenotype. CREF cells respond to thyroid hormone treatment with increased Na,K-ATPase activity and bind similar levels of 125I-EGF at 32 degrees C, 37 degrees C and 39.5 degrees C. In contrast, CREF cells transformed by wt Ad5 or the E1a plus E1b-transforming genes of wt Ad5 are refractile to T3 treatment and bind lower levels of 125I-EGF than CREF cells at all three temperatures. By employing a series of cloned CREF cell lines transformed by a host-range cold-sensitive mutant virus, H5hr1 or H5dl101, or the E1a or E1a plus E1b genes from these viruses, we have investigated expression of the transformed state and its relationship with hormone inducibility and EGF binding. When cs virus, cs E1a- or cs E1a plus E1b-transformed CREF clones were grown at 32 degrees C, a nonpermissive transforming temperature in which cs-transformed cells exhibit properties similar to untransformed CREF cells, T3 induced Na,K-ATPase activity and these cells bound similar levels of 125I-EGF as CREF cells. However, when cs virus- and cs Ela plus E1b-transformed CREF clones were incubated at 37 degrees C or 39.5 degrees C, temperatures at which cs-transformed cells exhibit properties similar to wt Ad5-transformed CREF cells, they did not respond to T3 and bound lower levels of 125I-EGF than CREF cells. In the case of cs E1a-transformed CREF clones, thyroid hormone responsiveness was observed at both 32 degrees C and 37 degrees C, but not at 39.5 degrees C. By performing temperature shift experiments--i.e. 32 degrees C to 37 degrees C, 32 degrees C to 39.5 degrees C, 37 degrees C to 32 degrees C, and 39.5 degrees C to 32 degrees C, it was demonstrated that after a shift from lower to higher temperature a 24-hr lag period was required for cs-transformed CREF cells to lose T3 inducibility and exhibit reduced EGF binding, whereas 96 hr after a shift from higher to lower temperature a 96-hr lag period was required for cs-transformed cells to regain T3 inducibility and increased 125I-EGF binding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Effect of culture temperature on erythropoietin production and glycosylation in a perfusion culture of recombinant CHO cells

To investigate the effect of culture temperature on erythropoietin (EPO) production and glycosylation in recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, we cultivated CHO cells using a perfusion bioreactor. Cells were cultivated at 37 degrees C until viable cell concentration reached 1 x 10(7) cells/mL, and then culture temperature was shifted to 25 degrees C, 28 degrees C, 30 degrees C, 32 degrees C, 37 degrees C (control), respectively. Lowering culture temperature suppressed cell growth but was beneficial to maintain high cell viability for a longer period. In a control culture at 37 degrees C, cell viability gradually decreased and fell below 80% on day 18 while it remained over 90% throughout the culture at low culture temperature. The cumulative EPO production and specific EPO productivity, q(EPO), increased at low culture temperature and were the highest at 32 degrees C and 30 degrees C, respectively. Interestingly, the cumulative EPO production at culture temperature below 32 degrees C was not as high as the cumulative EPO production at 32 degrees C although the q(EPO) at culture temperature below 32 degrees C was comparable or even higher than the q(EPO) at 32 degrees C. This implies that the beneficial effect of lowering culture temperature below 32 degrees C on q(EPO) is outweighed by its detrimental effect on the integral of viable cells. The glycosylation of EPO was evaluated by isoelectric focusing, normal phase HPLC and anion exchange chromatography analyses. The quality of EPO at 32 degrees C in regard to acidic isoforms, antennary structures and sialylated N-linked glycans was comparable to that at 37 degrees C. However, at culture temperatures below 32 degrees C, the proportions of acidic isoforms, tetra-antennary structures and tetra-sialylated N-linked glycans were further reduced, suggesting that lowering culture temperature below 32 degrees C negatively affect the quality of EPO. Thus, taken together, cell culture at 32 degrees C turned out to be the most satisfactory since it showed the highest cumulative EPO production, and moreover, EPO quality at 32 degrees C was not deteriorated as obtained at 37 degrees C.