The Production of Human Growth Hormone

Abstract

For the production of recombinant proteins for clinical use animal cell cultivation is used. Only these cells are able to perform correct folding and glycosylation of the desired protein. As the production process is expensive and long, cheaper and/or swifter cultivation routines are required. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were used to examine the expansion of cells and the production of recombinant human growth hormone in different cell culture systems which are supposed to achieve higher cell densities and product concentrations compared to conventional cell culture systems. The CHO cells were grown in suspension in serum-free, low-protein medium. Five different culture systems were used for batch-cultivation: Biostat B, BelloCell 500, spinner flask, RCCS-D and miniPERM. The systems differed in oxygen supply and medium agitation. While cells are agitated by stirrers in Biostat B and spinner flask, the whole medium is revolved in BelloCell 500, RCCS-D and miniPERM. Unlike the other systems the BelloCell 500 retains the CHO cells on a matrix. The aim was to maximize cell growth and productivity, which was achieved best in BelloCell and RCCS-D. In a second step the influence of temperature on growth and product formation was examined.