Efficient Recombinant Production in Mammalian Cells Using a Novel IR/MAR Gene Amplification Method

We previously found that plasmids bearing a mammalian replication initiation region (IR) and a nuclear matrix attachment region (MAR) efficiently initiate gene amplification and spontaneously increase their copy numbers in animal cells. In this study, this novel method was applied to the establishment of cells with high recombinant antibody production. The level of recombinant antibody expression was tightly correlated with the efficiency of plasmid amplification and the cytogenetic appearance of the amplified genes, and was strongly dependent on cell type. By using a widely used cell line for industrial protein production, CHO DG44, clones expressing very high levels of antibody were easily obtained. High-producer clones stably expressed the antibody over several months without eliciting changes in both the protein expression level and the cytogenetic appearance of the amplified genes. The integrity and reactivity of the protein produced by this method was fine. In serum-free suspension culture, the specific protein production rate in high-density cultures was 29.4 pg/cell/day. In conclusion, the IR/MAR gene amplification method is a novel and efficient platform for recombinant antibody production in mammalian cells, which rapidly and easily enables the establishment of stable high-producer cell clone.     

Fusion of the Dhfr/Mtx and IR/MAR Gene Amplification Methods Produces a Rapid and Efficient Method for Stable Recombinant Protein Production

Amplification of the dihydrofolate reductase gene (Dhfr) by methotrexate (Mtx) exposure is commonly used for recombinant protein expression in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. However, this method is both time- and labor-intensive, and the high-producing cells that are generated are frequently unstable in culture. Another gene amplification method is based on using a plasmid bearing a mammalian replication initiation region (IR) and a matrix attachment region (MAR), which result in the spontaneous initiation of gene amplification in transfected cells. The IR/MAR and Dhfr/Mtx methods of gene amplification are based on entirely different principles. In this study, we combine these two methods to yield a novel method, termed the IR/MAR-Dhfr fusion method, which was used to express three proteins, the Fc receptor, GFP, and recombinant antibody. The fusion method resulted in a dramatic increase in expression of all three proteins in two CHO sub-lines, DXB-11, and DG44. The IR/MAR-Dhfr fusion amplified the genes rapidly and efficiently, and produced larger amounts of antibody than the Dhfr/Mtx or IR/MAR methods alone. While the amplified structure produced by the Dhfr/Mtx method was highly unstable, and the antibody production rate rapidly decreased with the culture time of the cells, the IR/MAR-Dhfr fusion method resulted in stable amplification and generated clonal cells that produced large amounts of antibody protein over a long period of time. In summary, the novel IR/MAR-Dhfr fusion method enables isolation of stable cells that produce larger amounts of a target recombinant protein more rapidly and easily than either the Dhfr/Mtx or IR/MAR methods alone.     

Identification of a potent MAR element from the human genome and assessment of its activity in stably transfected CHO cells

Low‐level and unstable transgene expression are common issues using the CHO cell expression system. Matrix attachment regions (MARs) enhance transgene expression levels, but additional research is needed to improve their function and to determine their mechanism of action. MAR‐6 from CHO chromosomes actively mediates high and consistent gene expression. In this study, we compared the effects of two new MARs and MAR‐6 on transgene expression in recombinant CHO cells and found one potent MAR element that can significantly increase transgene expression. Two MARs, including the human CSP‐B MAR element and DHFR intron MAR element from CHO cells, were cloned and inserted downstream of the poly(A) site in a eukaryotic vector. The constructs were transfected into CHO cells, and the expression levels and stability of eGFP were detected by flow cytometry. The three MAR sequences can be ranked in terms of overall eGFP expression, in decreasing order, as follows: human CSP‐B, DHFR intron MAR element and MAR‐6. Additionally, as expected, the three MAR‐containing vectors showed higher transfection efficiencies and transient transgene expression in comparison with those of the non‐MAR‐containing vector. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the NFAT and VIBP elements within MAR sequences may contribute to the enhancement of eGFP expression. In conclusion, the human CSP‐B MAR element can improve transgene expression and its effects may be related to the NFAT and VIBP elements.     

Use of the chicken lysozyme 5' matrix attachment region to generate high producer CHO cell lines

Scaffold or matrix attachment region (S/MAR) genetic elements have previously been proposed to insulate transgenes from repressive effects linked to their site of integration within the host cell genome. We have evaluated their use in various stable transfection settings to increase the production of recombinant proteins such as monoclonal antibodies from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines. Using the green fluorescent protein coding sequence, we show that S/MAR elements mediate a dual effect on the population of transfected cells. First, S/MAR elements almost fully abolish the occurrence of cell clones that express little transgene that may result from transgene integration in an unfavorable chromosomal environment. Second, they increase the overall expression of the transgene over the whole range of expression levels, allowing the detection of cells with significantly higher levels of transgene expression. An optimal setting was identified as the addition of a S/MAR element both in cis (on the transgene expression vector) and in trans (co-transfected on a separate plasmid). When used to express immunoglobulins, the S/MAR element enabled cell clones with high and stable levels of expression to be isolated following the analysis of a few cell lines generated without transgene amplification procedures.     

Efficient selection of stable chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines for expression of recombinant proteins by using human interferon beta SAR element

We describe the development of an efficient expression system suitable for the stable expression of recombinant genes in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells using the human interferon beta SAR element. The insertion of two copies of the human interferon beta SAR element at the 5' and 3' flanking regions of the beta-galactosidase reporter gene increased the frequency of beta-galactosidase positive colonies by up to 75% and enhanced beta-galactosidase expression by 15- to 20-fold after G418 selection or 30- to 40-fold at the initial stage of the MTX selection procedure. Deletion analysis showed that the whole DNA regions of the human interferon beta SAR element are required for beta-galactosidase expression enhancement. The developed expression system was also highly effective at enhancing the stable expression of two therapeutically important proteins, namely, erythropoietin (EPO) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). We isolated stable colonies with expression levels of 47 microg/10(6) cells/day for EPO and 13 microg/10(6) cells/day for HGF, suggesting that the developed expression system based on the human beta SAR element is suitable for expressing high levels of recombinant proteins in CHO cells.     

Enhanced expression of transgene in CHO cells using matrix attachment region

The expression of transgenes in mammalian cells is often at a low level mainly due to position effects from the neighboring chromatin context. To improve this, we have constructed a vector pCAM, which contains chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene cassettes, driven by SV40 early promoter and flanked by two human beta-globin MARs in cis. We transfected this vector into the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line, and found that the level of CAT gene expression with MAR was effectively increased, about 5.493-fold higher than those without MARs. Moreover, the variations of CAT expression among individuals of transformants were decreased 2.670-fold. Our result also showed that MAR could increase the proportion of positive colonies in recombinants.     

CHO/dhfr-细胞定点整合高效表达系统的建立

为了克服随机整合建立高表达细胞株时“位置效应”所带来的不可预知的后果,我们尝试建立基于定点整合的CHO高效表达系统。首先设计一个新的高效筛选载体pMCEscan。该载体含有报告基因（k2tPA）、扩增基因（dhfr）、重组酶识别序列（FRT）及筛选基因（neo）,且neo基因的表达经过系统的弱化,确保能够对基因组中的整合位点进行大规模的高效筛选。然后利用该载体转染CHO／dhfr^-细胞并进行大规模筛选以获得足够多的阳性克隆,并对阳性克隆进行系统分析,筛选出报告基因表达水平高、单拷贝且扩增效果好的克隆,此克隆被认为筛选载体整合入CHO细胞基因组中转录热点（Hotspot）区域,从而获得了能够实现外源基因在基因组中定点整合和有效表达的CHO／dhfr-细胞系。随后利用位点特异性重组系统（FLP-FRT）将外源基因定点整合到Hotspot区域,以实现外源基因在CHO细胞基因组中的定点整合及高效表达。并利用该细胞系实现了k2tPA的高表达,表达量达到17．1μg／10^6cell·24h。该研究致力于CHO细胞基因组中高表达位点的寻找和确认,建立基于定点整合的哺乳动物细胞高效表达系统。     

A genetic element that increases the frequency of gene amplification.

A repetitive mammalian genetic element, HSAG-1, has been shown to promote the amplification of the vector, pSV2-DHFR, containing the functional cDNA for dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). LR-73 cells, a line of Chinese hamster ovary cells, were transfected with this recombinant construct or with the parent vector, then subjected to culture in selective medium containing steadily increasing concentrations of methotrexate, a drug which specifically inhibits DHFR. Cultures transfected with the HSAG-1-containing construct acquired drug resistance faster than those transfected with the parent vector. This acceleration of acquisition of drug resistance was due to an increased probability of the generation and subsequent selection of cellular variants with increased copy numbers of the vector. The effect has also been observed in CHO(DHFR-) and HeLa cell lines. Possible mechanisms for the effect of the HSAG-1 element on gene amplification are discussed.     

Morphological selection of parental Chinese hamster ovary cell clones exhibiting high-level expression of recombinant protein

To facilitate the establishment of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cell lines with dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr)-mediated gene amplification, a primary selection method based on morphology of parental CHO clones has been developed. Morphology of parental clones that were made by transfecting various plasmids encoding thrombopoietin (TPO) and its analogs and humanized antibodies into dhfr-deficient (dhfr-) CHO cells was not uniform. Morphology of many parental clones exhibiting high-level expression of the introduced gene was similar to that of nontransfected dhfr- CHO cells. On the other hand, most parental clones with low-level expression experienced noticeable morphological changes such as bipolar fibroblast-like morphology. In case of selection of parental clones with TPO expression level higher than 200 ng/mL, morphological selection improved selection efficiency by 3.5-fold compared with random selection. Furthermore, when subjected to methotrexate for gene amplification, parental clones that were selected based on morphology elevated the expression level as much as those that were selected randomly. Taken together, morphological selection of parental clones can facilitate the establishment of rCHO cell lines expressing recombinant proteins.     

Effect of amplification ofdhfr andlac Z genes on growth and β-galactosidase expression in suspension cultures of recombinant CHO cells

Studies were conducted to characterize the effect of gene amplification and foreign gene expression on recombinant CHO cell growth. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were transfected with an expression vector containing the gene for dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) and the gene for human β-interferon (β-IFN) or thelac Z gene which codes for β-galactosidase (β-gal). The recombinant genes in these CHO cells were amplified stepwise by growth in 0, 10⁻⁷, and 10⁻⁶ M methotrexate (MTX), and the β-gal expressing cells were adapted to suspension culture. Flow cytometric methods (FCM) were used to measure the distribution of amplifieddhfr gene content and foreign β-gal gene expression in the cell populations. A biochemical assay for β-gal was also used. Beta-gal expression was found to increase with increasing gene amplification. The growth rate of recombinant CHO cells at 10⁻⁷ M MTX was found to be 20% lower than that of recombinant CHO cells in MTX-free medium, and the cell growth rate at 10⁻⁶ M MTX was 20% lower than that of recombinant CHO cells at 10⁻⁷ M MTX. There was no effect of 10⁻⁵ M MTX on the growth of CHO-DG44 (dhfr-) cells. The reduction of growth rate in recombinant CHO cells is therefore thought to be mainly due to the effect ofdhfr and foreign gene amplification and increased β-galactosidase expression.     

Two human MARs effectively increase transgene expression in transfected CHO cells

Matrix attachment regions (MARs) can enhance the expression level of transgene in Chinese hamster ovaries (CHO) cell expression system. However, improvements in function and analyses of the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we screened two new and more functional MAR elements from the human genome DNA. The human MAR‐3 and MAR‐7 element were cloned and inserted downstream of the polyA site in a eukaryotic vector. The constructs were transfected into CHO cells, and screened under G418 to produce the stably transfected cell pools. The expression levels and stability of enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) were detected by flow cytometry. The transgene copy number and transgene expression at mRNA level were detected by quantitative real‐time PCR. The results showed that the expression level of eGFP of cells transfected with MAR‐containing vectors were all higher than those of the vectors without MARs under transient and stably transfection. The enhancing effect of MAR‐7 was higher than that of MAR‐3. Additionally, we found that MAR significantly increased eGFP copy numbers and eGFP gene mRNA expression level as compared with the vector without. In conclusion, MAR‐3 and MAR‐7 gene can promote the expression of transgene in transfected CHO cells, and its effect may be related to the increase of the number of copies.     

Expression and amplification of cloned rat liver tyrosine aminotransferase in nonhepatic cells

A full-length cDNA for the rat liver enzyme tyrosine aminotransferase has been used to construct mammalian expression vectors by recombinant DNA techniques. These vectors, which have employed either a simian virus 40 or a Rous sarcoma virus promoter, were transfected into a variety of nonhepatic mammalian cell lines in culture. Transient expression of tyrosine aminotransferase was readily observed after transfection into monkey COS cells and mouse L cells. Stable clones that express cloned tyrosine aminotransferase have been isolated from mouse L cells, hamster Wg1a fibroblasts, and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. A vector capable of expressing both tyrosine aminotransferase and dihydrofolate reductase was stimulated to undergo amplification by treatment with methotrexate in a CHO cell line deficient in the latter enzyme. Levels of tyrosine aminotransferase as much as 50-fold higher than typically seen in glucocorticoid-induced hepatoma cells were achieved in some CHO clones by this technique. The tyrosine aminotransferase produced at these highly amplified levels appeared structurally normal and had no major harmful effects on the cells.     

Evaluating the interaction between UCOE and DHFR‐linked amplification and stability of recombinant protein expression

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are widely used in the biopharmaceutical industry. In the creation of mammalian cell lines plasmid DNA carrying the gene‐of‐interest integrates randomly into the host cell genome, which results in variable levels of gene expression between cell lines due to gene silencing mechanisms. In addition, cell lines often show unstable protein production during long‐term culture. This means that a large number of clones need to be screened in order to isolate stable, high producing cell lines making mammalian cell line development a long and laborious process. In this study an expression platform incorporating a Ubiquitous Chromatin Opening Element (UCOE; which are proposed to maintain chromatin in an open state) has been utilised for the expression of eGFP in CHO cells. Cell lines containing a UCOE vector, showed a significantly higher and more consistent eGFP expression than the non‐UCOE cell lines without DHFR amplification. To further improve recombinant protein production cell lines were amplified with methotrexate (MTX). UCOE cell lines showed improved growth in MTX therefore amplification to 250 nM MTX was achieved following a one‐step amplification procedure. However, non‐UCOE cell lines showed higher levels of eGFP production following MTX amplification. In addition, UCOE cell lines did not improve stability during long‐term culture in the absence of selective pressure. Stable eGFP production was achieved for all cell lines when MTX is present. Finally, UCOE cell lines displayed more consistent response to external stimuli than non‐UCOE cell lines, suggesting that UCOE cell lines are less prone to clonal variability. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:1014–1025, 2015     

Ubiquitous Chromatin Opening Elements (UCOEs) effect on transgene position and expression stability in CHO cells following methotrexate (MTX) amplification

The requirement for complex therapeutic proteins has resulted in mammalian cells, especially CHO cells, being the dominant host for recombinant protein manufacturing. In creating recombinant CHO cell lines, the expression vectors integrate into various parts of the genome leading to variable levels of expression and stability of protein production. This makes mammalian cell line development a long and laborious process. Therefore, with the intention to accelerate process development of recombinant protein production in CHO systems, UCOEs are utilized to diminish instability of production by maintaining an open chromatin surrounding in combination with MTX amplification. Chromosome painting and FISH analysis were performed to provide detailed molecular evaluation on the location of amplified genes and its relationship to the productivity and stability of the amplified cell lines. In summary, cell lines generated with vectors containing UCOEs retained stable GFP expression with MTX present (but instability was observed in the absence of MTX). UCOE cell lines displayed a higher frequency of integration into >1 chromosome than non‐UCOE group. Cell populations were more homogenous in terms of transgene location at the end of Long‐term culture (LTC). Overall our findings suggest variation in eGFP fluorescence may be attributed to changes in transgene integration profile over LTC.     

Chromosome breakage at a major fragile site associated with P-glycoprotein gene amplification in multidrug-resistant CHO cells.

Recent studies of several drug-resistant Chinese hamster cell lines suggested that a breakage-fusion-bridge mechanism is frequently involved in the amplification of drug resistance genes. These observations underscore the importance of chromosome breakage in the initiation of DNA amplification in mammalian cells. However, the mechanism of this breakage is unknown. Here, we propose that the site of chromosome breakage consistent with the initial event of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) gene amplification via the breakage-fusion-bridge cycle in three independently established multidrug-resistant CHO cells was located at 1q31. This site is a major chromosome fragile site that can be induced by methotrexate and aphidicolin treatments. Pretreatments of CHO cells with methotrexate or aphidicolin enhanced the frequencies of resistance to vinca alkaloid and amplification of the P-gp gene. These observations suggest that chromosome fragile sites play a pivotal role in DNA amplification in mammalian cells. Our data are also consistent with the hypothesis that gene amplification can be initiated by stress-induced chromosome breakage that is independent of modes of action of cytotoxic agents. Drug-resistant variants may arise by their growth advantage due to overproduction of cellular target molecules via gene amplification.     

How a Replication Origin and Matrix Attachment Region Accelerate Gene Amplification under Replication Stress in Mammalian Cells

The gene amplification plays a critical role in the malignant transformation of mammalian cells. The most widespread method for amplifying a target gene in cell culture is the use of methotrexate (Mtx) treatment to amplify dihydrofolate reductase (Dhfr). Whereas, we found that a plasmid bearing both a mammalian origin of replication (initiation region; IR) and a matrix attachment region (MAR) was spontaneously amplified in mammalian cells. In this study, we attempted to uncover the underlying mechanism by which the IR/MAR sequence might accelerate Mtx induced Dhfr amplification. The plasmid containing the IR/MAR was extrachromosomally amplified, and then integrated at multiple chromosomal locations within individual cells, increasing the likelihood that the plasmid might be inserted into a chromosomal environment that permits high expression and further amplification. Efficient amplification of this plasmid alleviated the genotoxicity of Mtx. Clone-based cytogenetic and sequence analysis revealed that the plasmid was amplified in a chromosomal context by breakage-fusion-bridge cycles operating either at the plasmid repeat or at the flanking fragile site activated by Mtx. This mechanism explains how a circular molecule bearing IR/MAR sequences of chromosomal origin might be amplified under replication stress, and also provides insight into gene amplification in human cancer.     

SV40 intron,a potent strong intron element that effectively increases transgene expression in transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells have become the most widely utilized mammalian cell line for the production of recombinant proteins. However, the product yield and transgene instability need to be further increased and solved. In this study, we investigated the effect of five different introns on transgene expression in CHO cells. hCMV intron A, adenovirus tripartite leader sequence intron, SV40 intron, Chinese hamster EF‐1alpha gene intron 1 and intervening sequence intron were cloned downstream of the eGFP expression cassette in a eukaryotic vector, which was then transfected into CHO cells. qRT‐PCR and flow cytometry were used to explore eGFP expression levels. And gene copy number was also detected by qPCR, respectively. Furthermore, the erythropoietin (EPO) protein was used to test the selected more strong intron. The results showed that SV40 intron exhibited the highest transgene expression level among the five compared intron elements under transient and stable transfections. In addition, the SV40 intron element can increase the ratio of positive colonies and decrease the coefficient of variation in transgene expression level. Moreover, the transgene expression level was not related to the gene copy number in stable transfected CHO cells. Also, the SV40 intron induced higher level of EPO expression than IVS intron in transfected CHO cell. In conclusion, SV40 intron is a potent strong intron element that increases transgene expression, which can readily be used to more efficient transgenic protein production in CHO cells.     

Coamplification and coexpression of human tissue-type plasminogen activator and murine dihydrofolate reductase sequences in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Expression of human tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) at high levels has been achieved in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells by cotransfection and subsequent coamplification of the transfected sequences. Expression vectors containing the t-PA cDNA gene and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) cDNA gene were cotransfected into CHO DHFR-deficient cells. Transformants expressing DHFR were selected by growth in media lacking nucleosides and contained low numbers of t-PA genes and DHFR genes. Stepwise selection of the DHFR+ transformants in increasing concentrations of methotrexate generated cells which had amplified both DHFR genes and t-PA genes over 100-fold. These cell lines expressed elevated levels of enzymatically active t-PA. To optimize both t-PA sequence amplification and t-PA expression, various modifications of the original procedure were used. These included alterations to the DHFR expression vector, optimization of the molar ratio of t-PA to DHFR sequences in the cotransfection, and modification of the methotrexate resistance selection procedure. The structure of the amplified DNA, its chromosomal location, and its stability during growth in the absence of methotrexate are reported.