Expression, purification and characterization of the authentic form of human growth hormone receptor antagonist G120R-hGH obtained in Escherichia coli periplasmic space.

The human growth hormone receptor antagonist G120R-hGH precludes dimerization of GH and prolactin receptors and consequently JAK/STAT signaling. Some modifications in this antagonist resulted in a drug specific for the GH receptor, called Pegvisomant (Somavert®). However, the original G120R-hGH is usually synthesized in bacterial cytoplasm as inclusion bodies, not being a commercial product. The present work describes the synthesis and characterization of G120R-hGH secreted into bacterial periplasm and obtained with a vector based on a constitutive lambda-PL promoter. This antagonist can be useful for studies aiming at investigating the effects of a simultaneous inhibition of GH and prolactin signaling, as a potential anti-tumoral or anti-diabetic compound. G120R-hGH, synthesized using the W3110 E. coli strain, showed a yield of 1.34 ± 0.24 µg/ml/A600 (∼0.79 mg G120R-hGH/g of wet weight cells) after cultivation at 30 °C up to 3 A600 units and induction at 37 °C, for 6 h, with final 4.3 ± 0.3 A600. A laboratory scale purification was carried out using three chromatographic steps with a total yield of 32%, reaching 98% purity. The obtained protein was characterized by SDS-PAGE, Western Blotting, Mass spectrometry, RP-HPLC, HPSEC and in vitro proliferation bioassay. The proliferation assay, based on Ba/F3-LLP cells, shows that G120R-hGH (100 ng/ml) significantly inhibited (64%) the proliferative action of hGH (1 ng/ml). This is the first time that G120R-hGH is synthesized in bacterial periplasmic space and therefore correctly folded, without the initial methionine. The reasons for a divergent efficacy for antagonizing hGH versus hPRL is currently unknown and deserves further investigation.

Improved bioprocess with CHO-hTSH cells on higher microcarrier concentration provides higher overall biomass and productivity for rhTSH.

Since the recombinant thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH) is secreted by stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-hTSH) cells, a bioprocess consisting of immobilizing the cells on a substrate allowing their multiplication is very suitable for rhTSH recovering from supernatants at relative high degree of purity. In addition, such a system has also the advantage of easily allowing delicate manipulations of culture medium replacement. In the present study, we show the development of a laboratory scale bioprocess protocol of CHO-hTSH cell cultures on cytodex microcarriers (MCs) in a 1 L bioreactor, for the preparation of rhTSH batches in view of structure/function studies. CHO-hTSH cells were cultivated on a fetal bovine serum supplemented medium during cell growth phase. For rhTSH synthesis phase, 75% of supernatant was replaced by animal protein-free medium every 24 h. Cell cultures were monitored for agitation (rpm), temperature (°C), dissolved oxygen (% DO), pH, cell concentration, MCs coverage, glucose consumption, lactate production, and rhTSH expression. The results indicate that the amount of MCs in the culture and the cell concentration at the beginning of rhTSH synthesis phase were crucial parameters for improving the final rhTSH production. By cultivating the CHO-hTSH cells with an initial cell seeding of four cells/MC on 4 g/L of MCs with a repeated fed batch mode of operation at 40 rpm, 37 °C, 20% DO, and pH 7.2 and starting the rhTSH synthesis phase with 3 × 10(6) cells/mL, we were able to supply the cultures with enough glucose, to maintain low levels of lactate, and to provide high percent (∼80%) of fully covered MCs for a long period (5 days) and attain a high cell concentration (∼9 × 10(5) cells/mL). The novelty of the present study is represented by the establishment of cell culture conditions allowing us to produce ∼1.6 mg/L of rhTSH in an already suitable degree of purity. Batches of produced rhTSH were purified and showed biological activity.

Participation of peripheral tachykinin NK1 receptors in the carrageenan-induced inflammation of the rat temporomandibular joint.

Temporomandibular disorders represent one of the major challenges in dentistry therapeutics. This study was undertaken to evaluate the time course of carrageenan-induced inflammation in the rat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and to investigate the role of tachykinin NK(1) receptors. Inflammation was induced by a single intra-articular (i.art.) injection of carrageenan into the left TMJ (control group received sterile saline). Inflammatory parameters such as plasma extravasation, leukocyte influx and mechanical allodynia (measured as the head-withdrawal force threshold) and TNFalpha and IL-1beta concentrations were measured in the TMJ lavages at selected time-points. The carrageenan-induced responses were also evaluated after treatment with the NK(1) receptor antagonist SR140333. The i.art. injection of carrageenan into the TMJ caused a time-dependent plasma extravasation associated with mechanical allodynia, and a marked neutrophil accumulation between 4 and 24h. Treatment with SR140333 substantially inhibited the increase in plasma extravasation and leukocyte influx at 4 and 24h, as well as the production of TNFalpha and IL-1beta into the joint cavity, but failed to affect changes in head-withdrawal threshold. The results obtained from the present TMJ-arthritis model provide, for the first time, information regarding the time course of this experimental inflammatory process. In addition, our data show that peripheral NK(1) receptors mediate the production of both TNFalpha and IL-1beta in the TMJ as well as some of the inflammatory signs, such as plasma extravasation and leukocyte influx, but not the nociceptive component.