Optimization of chemically defined feed media for monoclonal antibody production in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are the most commonly used mammalian host for large-scale commercial production of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Chemically defined media are currently used for CHO cell-based mAb production. An adequate supply of nutrients, especially specific amino acids, is required for cell growth and mAb production, and chemically defined fed-batch processes that support rapid cell growth, high cell density, and high levels of mAb production is still challenging. Many studies have highlighted the benefits of various media designs, supplements, and feed addition strategies in cell cultures. In the present study, we used a strategy involving optimization of a chemically defined feed medium to improve mAb production. Amino acids that were consumed in substantial amounts during a control culture were added to the feed medium as supplements. Supplementation was controlled to minimize accumulation of waste products such as lactate and ammonia. In addition, we evaluated supplementation with tyrosine, which has poor solubility, in the form of a dipeptide or tripeptide to improve its solubility. Supplementation with serine, cysteine, and tyrosine enhanced mAb production, cell viability, and metabolic profiles. A cysteine-tyrosine-serine tripeptide showed high solubility and produced beneficial effects similar to those observed with the free amino acids and with a dipeptide in improving mAb titers and metabolic profiles.

Dependence on glucose limitation of the pCO2 influences on CHO cell growth, metabolism and IgG production.

The culture levels of glucose and CO(2) have been reported to independently have important influences on mammalian cell processes. In this work the combined effects of glucose limitation and CO(2) partial pressure (pCO(2)) on monoclonal antibody (IgG) producing Chinese Hamster Ovary cells were investigated in a perfusion reactor operated with controlled cell specific medium feed rate, pH and osmolality. Under high glucose conditions (14.3 +/- 0.8 mM), the apparent growth rate decreased (from 0.021 to 0.009 h(-1)) as the pCO(2) increased to approximately 220 mmHg, while the cell specific IgG productivity was almost unchanged. The lactate yield from glucose was not affected by pCO(2) up to approximately 220 mmHg and glucose was mainly converted to lactate. A feed medium modification from high (33 mM) to low (6 mM) glucose resulted in <0.1 mM glucose in the culture. As a result of apparently shifting metabolism towards the conversion of pyruvate to CO(2), both the ratio of lactate to glucose and the alanine production rate were lowered (1.51-1.14 and 17.7-0.56 nmol/10(6) cells h, respectively). Interestingly, when the pCO(2) was increased to approximately 140 mmHg, limiting glucose resulted in 1.7-fold higher growth rates, compared to high glucose conditions. However, at approximately 220 mmHg pCO(2) this beneficial effect of glucose limitation on these CHO cells was lost as the growth rate dropped dramatically to 0.008 h(-1) and the IgG productivity was lowered by 15% (P < 0.01) relative to the high glucose condition. The IgG galactosylation increased under glucose- limited compared to high-glucose conditions.