High density culture of hybridoma cells in a dual hollow fiber bioreactor

Summary Hybridoma cells were cultured for two months in the dual hollow fiber bioreactor (DHFBR) which had been successfully used for high cell density cultures of various microbial cells. In batch suspension culture the concentration of monoclonal antibody (Mab) against human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) and the cell density of Alps 25-3 hybridoma cells were obtained in 30 μg/mL and 2.35×10⁶ cells/mL, respectively. The continuous culture with DHFBR produced Mab of 100–130 μg/mL for 30 days and the estimated cell density in the extracapillary space of DHFBR was 1.87×10⁸ cells/mL based on the antibody production rate. The productivity of Mab was 205 mg/day per litre of the total reactor volume while that of the batch suspension culture was only 10 mg/L day.     

Calculations on O2 transfer in capsules with animal cells for the determination of maximum capsule size without O2 limitation

The size of the capsules without O2 limitation and maximum allowable capsule size for different cell densities were calculated by the observable modulus (modified Thiele modulus). When hybridoma (ATCC HB-8852) at 2.5 3 × 105cells/ ml was encapsulated and grown, the cell density reached to 2.6 × 107cells/ml in the 7th day of incubation. The average diameter of the capsule was 2.1mm. The maximum cell density obtained from experiment agreed with the calculated cell density for the given size of the capsules. © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998     

Growth factor and bcl-2 mediated survival during abortive proliferation of hybridoma cell line

Cultures of the CRL-1606 hybridoma (ATCC) have been reported to undergo continuous proliferation with simultaneous death during nutrient limited fed-batch fermentations. The bcl-2 proto-oncogene has been shown to prevent cell death under a variety of otherwise death inducing conditions. We were interested in elucidating the nature of the massive death observed in cultures of CRL-1606, specifically with respect to the possible environmental causes, and the ability of overexpressed human bcl-2 (hbcl-2) to mitigate cell death. Abortive proliferation, or continuous proliferation in the presence of continuous death, could be induced in serum free cultures of CRL-1606 through the withdrawal of insulin provided the culture was competent for cell proliferation. Culture competency for proliferation was found to be solely determined by the presence of cell culture nutrients. Abortive proliferation was defective in cultures transfected with hbcl-2 and the enhanced viability observed resulted from an increased viable cell population and at the expense of the nonviable cell population normally found in untransfected cultures. Abortive proliferation was also observed in serum containing cultures upon serum shiftdowns. Like the insulin-supplemented serum free culture system, hbcl-2 transfected cultures exhibited defects in the abortive proliferation process. These results suggest that the massive death observed during nutrient-limited fed-batch fermentation originate, in part, from growth or survival factor limitations. Hence, approaches to design cell culture media that account for the cell's proliferation requirements without accounting for the cell's survival requirements may represent a cell death sentence. Given the transformed nature of the hybridomas, we conclude that the abortive proliferation of CRL-1606 is a consequence of inappropriate cell cycle entry in a survival factor limited environment.     

Monoclonal antibodies against naturally occurring bioactive compounds

The ratio of hapten to bovine serum albumin (BSA) in an antigen conjugate was determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) tof mass spectrometry. A hybridoma secreting monoclonal antibody (MAb) was produced by fusing splenocytes immunized with an antigen-BSA conjugate with HAT-sensitive mouse myeloma cells. The cross-reaction of anti-forskolin antibodies with 7-deacetyl forskolin was 5.6%. A very small cross-reaction appeared with other derivatives. The full measuring range of the assay extends from 5 ng to 5 μg/ml of forskolin. Immunoaffinity column chromatography using anti-forskolin MAbs appears to be far superior to previously published separation methods. The capacity of the immunoaffinity column as determined by ELISA is 9 μg/ml. Forskolin has been isolated directly from the crude extracts of tuberous roots and the callus culture of Coleus forskohlii. A MAb against tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) was produced. The cross-reaction of anti-THCA antibody against other cannabinoids was very wide. Many cannabinoids and a spiro-compound were reactive, but did not react with other phenolics. It became evident that this ELISA was able to be applied to the biotransformation experiments of cannabinoids in plant tissue culture system. Anti-ginsenoside Rb1 MAbs were produced. New western blotting method of determination for ginsenosides was established. Ginsenosides separated by silica gel TLC were transferred to a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane. The membrane was treated with NaIO₄ solution followed by BSA, resulting in a ginsenoside-BSA conjugate. Immunostaining of ginsenosides was more sensitive compared to other staining. Immunostaining of ginsenosides in the fresh ginseng root was succeeded using anti-ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) MAb after blotting to PVDF membrane. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Modified CelliGen-packed bed bioreactors for hybridoma cell cultures

This study describes two packed bed bioreactor configurations which were used to culture a mouse-mouse hybridoma cell line (ATCC HB-57) which produces an IgG₁ monoclonal antibody. The first configuration consists of a packed column which is continuously perfused by recirculating oxygenated media through the column. In the second configuration, the packed bed is contained within a stationary basket which is suspended in the vessel of a CelliGen^™ bioreactor. In this configuration, recirculation of the oxygenated media is provided by the CelliGen Cell Lift impeller. Both configurations are packed with disk carriers made from a non-woven polyester fabric. During the steady-state phase of continuous operation, a cell density of 10⁸ cells per cm³ of bed volume was obtained in both bioreactor configurations. The high levels of productivity (0.5 gram MAb per 1 of packed bed per day) obtained in these systems demonstrates that the culture conditions achieved in these packed bed bioreactors are excellent for the continuous propagation of hybridomas using media which contains low levels (1 %) of serum as well as serum-free media. These packed bed bioreactors allow good control of pH, dissolved oxygen and temperature. The media flows evenly over the cells and produces very low shear forces. These systems are easy to set up and operate for prolonged periods of time. The potential for scale-up using Fibra-cel carriers is enhanced due to the low pressure drop and low mass transfer resistance, which creates high void fraction approaching 90% in the packed bed.     

Estimation of pristane levels in murine ascites fluid and in purified monoclonal antibody preparations

A simple method for the rapid analysis of pristane has been designed using a heptane extract of the aqueous sample followed by separation and detection by gas chromatography. Ascites fluid lots from three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and their purified preparations were analysed using the procedure. The highest detected level of pristane was 600 μg/mL in a single lot of ascites fluid with other values less than 140 μg/ml. For the purified samples, no pristane was detected down to the demonstrated limit of 4 μg/mg of MAb.     

Production and validation of the pharmacokinetics of a single-chain Fv fragment of the MGR6 antibody for targeting of tumors expressing HER-2

The HER-2 antigen, which is overexpressed in many breast carcinomas, is an ideal target for monoclonal antibodies due to its low expression in normal tissue and its homogeneous distribution in the tumor mass. We have developed and characterized the murine MAb MGR6 against HER-2, which is able to inhibit proliferation of tumor cells overexpressing HER-2. On the basis of these preclinical results, phase I studies in breast carcinoma patients were conducted and radiolocalization data indicated an antibody half life which directly paralleled that of other whole antibodies and thus resulting in a limited in vivo diagnostic capacity. To obtain a smaller reagent with possibly improved in vivo properties, a single chain variable fragment (scFv) of the original MGR6-producing hybridoma was generated by phage display technology. Biologically active MGR6 scFv was purified rapidly and at high yield by metal affinity chromatography. Competition FACS and ELISA analyses identified an epitope on the HER-2 extracellular domain that was shared by the scFv and the parental MAb. BIAcore analysis indicated a K_off of 9.3 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹, similar to that of the intact MGR6 MAb. Distribution and elimination half-lives of MGR6 scFv, calculated from in vivo preclinical evaluations, were much faster (13 min and 6.2 h, respectively) than previously published results for the intact MAb (mean t1/2β of 46 h). This represents a theoretical improvement in pharmacokinetics with respect to the parental murine MAb and points to the potential for utilizing this fragment in redirecting therapeutic agents, such as radioisotopes, to different human carcinomas overexpressing HER-2. Received: 10 August 2000 / Accepted: 19 October 2000     

Performance of an external loop air-lift bioreactor for the production of monoclonal antibodies by immobilized hybridoma cells

Summary The performance of an external loop air-lift bioreactor was investigated by assessing the inter-relationships between various hydrodynamic properties and mass transfer. The feasibility of using this bioreactor for the production of monoclonal antibodies by mouse hybridoma cells immobilized in calcium alginate gel beads and alginate/poly-l-lysine microcapsules was also examined. When the superficial gas velocity, V _g , in the 300 ml reactor was varied from 2 to 36 cm/min, the average liquid velocity increased from 3 to 14 cm/sec, the gas hold-up rose from 0.2 to 3.0%, and the oxygen mass transfer coefficient, k _L a, increased from 2.5 to 18.1 h^-1. A minimum liquid velocity of 4 cm/s was required to maintain alginate gel beads (1000 m diameter, occupying 3% of reactor volume) in suspension. Batch culture of hybridoma cells immobilized in alginate beads followed logarithmic growth, reaching a concentration of 4×10⁷ cells/ml beads after 11 days. Significant antibody production did not occur until day 9 into the culture, reaching a value of 100 g/ml of medium at day 11. On the other hand, bioreactor studies with encapsulated hybridoma cells gave monoclonal antibody concentrations of up to 800 g/ml capsules (the antibody being retained within the semipermeable capsule) and maximum cell densities of 2×10⁸ cells/ml capsule at day 11. The volumetric productivities of the alginate gel immobilized cell system and the encapsulated cell system were 9 and 3 g antibody per ml of reactor volume per day, respectively. The main advantage of the bioreactor system is its simple design, since no mechanical input is required to vary the hydrodynamic properties.     

Establishment of a mouse hybrid-hybridoma secreting bispecific antibodies to bovine lactoferrin and horseradish peroxidase

Summary A mouse hybridoma HS@03A secreting anti-horseradish peroxidase (HRPO) monoclonal antibodies (IgG1) was established. A HAT sensitive clone of HS@03A was obtained by culturing the hybridoma cells in a 6-thioguanine supplemented medium. The resulting clone 03AR10-2 was fused with a 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine resistant (HAT sensitive) clone of a mouse hybridoma HB8852 secreting anti-bovine lactoferrin (bLF) antibodies. Hybrid-hybridomas secreting bispecific antibodies were selected and a hybrid-hybridoma clone HH1-4-3 was established. The bispecific antibodies secreted by the hybrid-hybridoma HH1-4-3 were found to be useful for the analysis of bLF by competitive ELISA.     

Effectiveness of vitamin A acetate for enhancing the production of lung cancer specific monoclonal antibodies

The antibody productivity of the human–human hybridoma cell line AE6, which produces the lung cancer specific human monoclonal antibody AE6F4, was enhanced fourfold upon stimulation with 1 μg/ml of vitamin A acetate for one day. The enhancement lasted for about two weeks, and could be repeated by another stimulation with vitamin A acetate. The enhancing effect of vitamin A acetate was influenced by the cell density. Enhancement was clearly observed when the cell density was under 10⁶ cells/ml. However, when the cell density was over 10⁷ cells/ml, enhancement was observed weakly or not at all. Although the enhancing effect of vitamin A acetate is not unique to AE6 cells, not all human–human hybridoma cell lines show increased productivity upon VA acetate stimulation. This study suggests that the response to vitamin A acetate may be related to the properties of a particular fusion partner which the hybridoma cell inherits. The efficacy of vitamin A acetate for production of human monoclonal antibodies using human–human hybridomas is discussed. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Design and performance of a trickle-bed bioreactor with immobilized hybridoma cells

A trickle-bed system employing inert matrices of vermiculite or polyurethane foam packed in the downcomer section of a split-flow air-lift reactor has been developed for hybridoma culture to enhance antibody productivity. This quiescent condition favoured occlusion and allowed the cells to achieve densities twelve fold greater (12.8×10⁶ cells/ml reactor for polyurethane foam) than in free cell suspension. The reactor was operated in a cyclic batch mode whereby defined volumes of medium were periodically withdrawn and replaced with equal volumes of fresh medium. The pH of the medium was used as the indicator of the feeding schedule. Glucose, lactate and ammonia concentrations reached a stationary value after 5 days. With vermiculite packing, a monoclonal antibody (MAb) concentration of 2.4 mg/l was achieved after 12 days. The MAb concentration declined then increased to a value of 1.8 mg/l. In the polyurethane foam average monoclonal antibody (MAb) concentrations reached a stationary value of 1.1 mg/l in the first 20 days and increased to a new stationary state value of 2.1 mg/l for the remainder of the production. MAb productivity in the trickle-bed reactor was 0.3 mg/l·d (polyurethane foam) and 0.18 mg/l.d (vermiculite) in comparison to 0.12 mg/l·d for free cell suspension. This trickle-bed system seems to be an attractive way of increasing MAb productivity in culture.     

Production of monoclonal antibodies against human chorionic gonadotropin by hybridoma cultures in calcium alginate capsules

A new method of making microcapsules with calcium alginate gel was developed and the cultivation of the encapsulated hybridoma cells producing monoclonal antibodies against human chorionic gonadotropin was investigated. A high cell density of 2.0×10⁸ cells/cm³ in the capsules led to a high dilution rate of 0.68 per hour and resulted in the high volumetric monoclonal antibody productivity of 652.8 mg/l/day, which was 20–30 times higher than those of traditional continuous suspension cultures. However, long-term continuous culture was not achieved with this capsule system probably because of the limitation in nutrient supply and the accumulation of waste products. Also the analysis of oxygen transfer in this system showed that oxygen supply was not enough to support such a high cell density.     

Avoiding rapid growth at high cell densities: A potentially important optimisation criterion for hybridoma cultures

Inhibition caused by rapid changes in the environment has earlier been observed in hybridoma cultures following deliberate step-changes in the culture environment. This paper presents evidence of similar effects occurring during the normal span of continuous cultures fed enriched medium at low dilution rates (0.002–0.005 1/h). The effect of this observation on optimisation is discussed. In continuous culture at a dilution rate of 0.013 1/h, a viable cell density of 4×10⁹ cells/l was achieved by gradually increasing the nutrient concentration in the feed medium. The MAb titre was 200 mg/l representing a 6-fold increase compared to batch culture and a 2-fold increase compared to continuous culture using standard medium.     

In-situ removal of ammonium and lactate through electrical means for hybridoma cultures

Ammonium and lactate are two known toxic products detrimental to mammalian cell growth and productivity. An electrokinetic technique, utilizing an electrophoretic mechanism, was developed to remove these cellular wastes in-situ from suspension hybridoma (ATCC CRL-1606) cultures to enhance cell growth and productivity. This technique applies continuously a dc electric field to selectively remove the electrically charged wastes. The experiments were shown to be successful in the removal of externally added 10 rnM ammonium and 45 mM lactate while maintaining the chemostatic condition of culture medium in a cell-free condition under an electric current density of 50 A/m(2). Toxic levels of ammonium were added, ranging from 7.5 to 12.5 mM, at the start of the hybridoma culture, and the applied dc electric fields were able to completely remove these added materials. This in turn released the inhibition and restored the cell growth. Finally, this electrokinetic technique was applied to the batch and glutamine fed-batch hybridoma cultures. At an applied electric current density of 50 A/m(2), this was able to completely remove cell-produced ammonium and increased the cell growth and antibody titer by 30% to 50%, respectively, compared to the control experiment in the absence of the electric field. Lastly, the applied electric current density of 50 A/m(2) did not affect cellular functionalities such as glucose and glutamine consumption and antibody productivity.(c) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Long term culture of mouse hybridoma HB8852 cells in a protein free medium

Summary We developed a protein free medium based on ERDF medium containing 80 M FeSO₄, ethanolamine and selenite. Although this medium contained neither transferrin nor insulin, the medium could support long term culture of mouse hybridoma HB8852 without any significant changes in antibody production.     

Production of rat monoclonal antibody from rat x mouse hybridoma cell lines using microencapsulation technology

Summary The cell growth and monoclonal antibody production characteristics of two rat x mouse heterohybridoma cell lines, designated 187.1 and M1/9.3, were investigated using a biocompatible microencapsulation technology. Both cell lines, derived from the fusion of immunized rat spleen cells with either the NS1 or X63Ag8.653 myeloma cell lines, were found to reach a maximum intracapsular cell density of 1.3 to 1.5×10⁷ cells/ml during a 27-d culture period. During this period, rat monoclonal antibody accumulated in the intracapsular space of both cultures to a final concentration of 2.0 to 2.8 mg/ml. Comparison of the concentration of rat monoclonal antibody in the extracapsular vs. the intracapsular space of both cultures indicated that significantly less than 1% of the antibody produced by the encapsulated hybridoma cells was capable of transiting the microcapsule membrane during the culture period. Due to the partition of the rat monoclonal antibody within the intracapsular space, the initial purity of the antibody harvested from 21-d microcapsule cultures of 187.1 and M1/9.3 cells was approximately 48 and 75% by weight, respectively. Analysis of the intracapsular protein by sodium dodecyl sulfoxide gel electrophoresis at different times during the culture period demonstrated that the principal contaminant associated with the unpurified antibody was bovine serum albumin.     

Production and scale‐up of a monoclonal antibody against 17‐hydroxyprogesterone

The hybridoma 192 was used to produce a monoclonal antibody (MAb) against 17‐hydroxyprogesterone (17‐OHP), for possible use in screening for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). The factors influencing the MAb production were screened and optimized in a 2 L stirred bioreactor. The production was then scaled up to a 20 L bioreactor. All of the screened factors (aeration rate, stirring speed, dissolved oxygen concentration, pH, and temperature) were found to significantly affect production. Optimization using the response surface methodology identified the following optimal production conditions: 36.8°C, pH 7.4, stirring speed of 100 rpm, 30% dissolved oxygen concentration, and an aeration rate of 0.09 vvm. Under these conditions, the maximum viable cell density achieved was 1.34 ± 0.21 × 10⁶ cells mL^?1 and the specific growth rate was 0.036 ± 0.004 h^?1. The maximum MAb titer was 11.94 ± 4.81 μg mL^?1 with an average specific MAb production rate of 0.273 ± 0.135 pg cell^?1 h^?1. A constant impeller tip speed criterion was used for the scale‐up. The specific growth rate (0.040 h^?1) and the maximum viable cell density (1.89 × 10⁶ cells mL^?1) at the larger scale were better than the values achieved at the small scale, but the MAb titer in the 20 L bioreactor was 18% lower than in the smaller bioreactor. A change in the culture environment from the static conditions of a T‐flask to the stirred bioreactor culture did not affect the specificity of the MAb toward its antigen (17‐OHP) and did not compromise the structural integrity of the MAb. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2013     

Effect of endogenous proteins on growth and antibody productivity in hybridoma batch cultures

It has been shown that some B-cell hybridomas secrete autocrine factorsin vitro which can influence cell metabolic processes. Rather than screen specifically for suspected cytokines, that may or may not affect our cell line, we have examined the lumped effects of intracellular and secreted factors on cell proliferation and monoclonal productivity in hybridoma batch cultures. Firstly, supplements of total soluble intracellular proteins combined with other intracellular metabolites were found to both decrease the specific growth rate and increase the antibody production rate at higher concentrations in batch culture. This is an important consideration in high cell density cultures, such as perfusion systems, where a reduction of growth by the presence of intracellular factors may be compensated by an increase in MAb production. In addition, flow cytometry data revealed that the average cell cycle G₁ phase fraction was unaffected by the variation in the maximum specific growth rates during the exponential growth phase, caused by the addition of intracellular factors; this suggests that higher MAb productivity at lower growth rates are not a result of cell arrest in the G₁ phase. Secondly, secreted extracellular proteins larger than 10,000 Daltons, which were concentrated from spent culture supernatant, were shown to have no significant effect on growth and specific MAb productivity when supplemented to batch culture at levels twice that encountered late in normal batch culture. This indicates that endogenous secreted cytokines, if at all present, do not play a major autocrine role for this cell line.Abbreviations FBS fetal bovine serum - MAb monoclonal antibody - MWCO molecular weight cut off - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl-sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - k _d exponential phase death rate, h^–1 - q _MAb exponential phase specific monoclonal antibody productivity, pg/(cell·h) - t time, h - X _d dead cell density, cells/mL - X _v viable cell density, cells/mL - specific growth rate, h^–1 - _{max app} apparent maximum specific growth rate, h^–1 - _max maximum specific growth rate, h^–1 _max = _{max app + Kd}      

抗脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇单克隆抗体的制备

[目的]小麦赤霉病菌产生的毒素不仅在病害发展过程中具有加重赤霉病的作用,而且污染谷物导致严重的食用安全性问题.由于赤霉病的普遍发生,有必要建立快速、灵敏、有效的毒素检测方法,本试验旨在制备可用于检测被脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇污染的粮谷类特异性单克隆抗体.[方法]本实验首先将脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇(DON)的衍生物3-半琥珀酰-脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇(3-HS-DON-OVA)与卵清蛋白(OVA)采用碳化二亚胺法进行偶联得到人工抗原,以此人工抗原免疫BALB/C小鼠,取该鼠脾细胞与SP2/O鼠骨髓瘤细胞融合,经筛选和克隆,得到了1株能稳定分泌DON抗体的单克隆细胞株(382),并制备单克隆抗体腹水.[结果]经检测382的抗体类型及亚类均为IgG1,其轻链为κ链.腹水通过间接酶联免疫吸附测定效价在1×10-7以上.该单克隆抗体与脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇特异性结合反应的50%抑制质量浓度为29 μg/L,除与3-acetyldeoxynivalenol(3-Ac-DON)的交叉反应率为78.38%,与其他脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇结构类似物无交叉反应.[结论]本实验所制备的单克隆抗体有较高的灵敏度和特异性,具有较好的应用价值.