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Desmurget C, Perilleux A, Souquet J, Borth N, Douet J. Molecular biomarkers identification and applications in CHO bioprocessing. J Biotechnol 2024; 392:11-24. [PMID: 38852681 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2024.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Biomarkers are valuable tools in clinical research where they allow to predict susceptibility to diseases, or response to specific treatments. Likewise, biomarkers can be extremely useful in the biomanufacturing of therapeutic proteins. Indeed, constraints such as short timelines and the need to find hyper-productive cells could benefit from a data-driven approach during cell line and process development. Many companies still rely on large screening capacities to develop productive cell lines, but as they reach a limit of production, there is a need to go from empirical to rationale procedures. Similarly, during bioprocessing runs, substrate consumption and metabolism wastes are commonly monitored. None of them possess the ability to predict the culture behavior in the bioreactor. Big data driven approaches are being adapted to the study of industrial mammalian cell lines, enabled by the publication of Chinese hamster and CHO genome assemblies which allowed the use of next-generation sequencing with these cells, as well as continuous proteome and metabolome annotation. However, if these different -omics technologies contributed to the characterization of CHO cells, there is a significant effort remaining to apply this knowledge to biomanufacturing methods. The correlation of a complex phenotype such as high productivity or rapid growth to the presence or expression level of a specific biomarker could save time and effort in the screening of manufacturing cell lines or culture conditions. In this review we will first discuss the different biological molecules that can be identified and quantified in cells, their detection techniques, and associated challenges. We will then review how these markers are used during the different steps of cell line and bioprocess development, and the inherent limitations of this strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Desmurget
- Merck Biotech Development Center, Ares Trading SA (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Fenil-sur-Corsier, Switzerland
| | - Arnaud Perilleux
- Merck Biotech Development Center, Ares Trading SA (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Fenil-sur-Corsier, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan Souquet
- Merck Biotech Development Center, Ares Trading SA (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Fenil-sur-Corsier, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Borth
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julien Douet
- Merck Biotech Development Center, Ares Trading SA (an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany), Fenil-sur-Corsier, Switzerland.
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2
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Carrillo Sanchez B, Hinchliffe M, Ellis M, Simpson C, Humphreys D, Sweeney B, Bracewell DG. Chinese hamster ovary cell line engineering strategies for modular production of custom extracellular vesicles. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:2907-2923. [PMID: 38924052 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Continuously secreted by all cell types, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small membrane-bound structures which shuttle bioactive cargo between cells across their external environment. Their central role as natural molecular messengers and ability to cross biological barriers has garnered significant attention in the use of EVs as therapeutic delivery vehicles. Still, harnessing the potential of EVs is faced with many obstacles. A cell line engineering approach can be used to exploit EVs to encapsulate a bespoke cargo of interest. However, full details regarding native EV-loading mechanisms remain under debate, making this a challenge. While Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are well known to be the preferred host for recombinant therapeutic protein production, their application as an EV producer cell host has been largely overlooked. In this study, we engineered CHO DG44 cells to produce custom EVs with bespoke cargo. To this end, genetic constructs employing split green fluorescent protein technology were designed for tagging both CD81 and protein cargoes to enable EV loading via self-assembling activity. To demonstrate this, NanoLuc and mCherry were used as model reporter cargoes to validate engineered loading into EVs. Experimental findings indicated that our custom EV approach produced vesicles with up to 15-fold greater cargo compared with commonly used passive loading strategies. When applied to recipient cells, we observed a dose-dependent increase in cargo activity, suggesting successful delivery of engineered cargo via our custom CHO EVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Braulio Carrillo Sanchez
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
- UCB Pharma, Slough, Berkshire, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Daniel G Bracewell
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
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3
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Li Q, Zhang F, Fu X, Han N. Therapeutic Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes as Nanomedicine for Peripheral Nerve Injury. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7882. [PMID: 39063125 PMCID: PMC11277195 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is a complex and protracted process, and existing therapeutic approaches struggle to achieve effective nerve regeneration. Recent studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may be a pivotal choice for treating peripheral nerve injury. MSCs possess robust paracrine capabilities, and exosomes, as the primary secretome of MSCs, are considered crucial regulatory mediators involved in peripheral nerve regeneration. Exosomes, as nanocarriers, can transport various endogenous or exogenous bioactive substances to recipient cells, thereby promoting vascular and axonal regeneration while suppressing inflammation and pain. In this review, we summarize the mechanistic roles of exosomes derived from MSCs in peripheral nerve regeneration, discuss the engineering strategies for MSC-derived exosomes to improve therapeutic potential, and explore the combined effects of MSC-derived exosomes with biomaterials (nerve conduits, hydrogels) in peripheral nerve regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qicheng Li
- Department of Trauma and Orthopedics, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China; (Q.L.); (F.Z.); (X.F.)
- Key Laboratory of Trauma and Neural Regeneration, Peking University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Fengshi Zhang
- Department of Trauma and Orthopedics, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China; (Q.L.); (F.Z.); (X.F.)
- Key Laboratory of Trauma and Neural Regeneration, Peking University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Xiaoyang Fu
- Department of Trauma and Orthopedics, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China; (Q.L.); (F.Z.); (X.F.)
- Key Laboratory of Trauma and Neural Regeneration, Peking University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Na Han
- Department of Trauma and Orthopedics, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044, China; (Q.L.); (F.Z.); (X.F.)
- Key Laboratory of Trauma and Neural Regeneration, Peking University, Beijing 100044, China
- National Center for Trauma Medicine, Beijing 100044, China
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4
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Zhang Y, Madabhushi S, Tang T, Raza H, Busch DJ, Zhao X, Ormes J, Xu S, Moroney J, Jiang R, Lin H, Liu R. Contributions of Chinese hamster ovary cell derived extracellular vesicles and other cellular materials to hollow fiber filter fouling during perfusion manufacturing of monoclonal antibodies. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:1674-1687. [PMID: 38372655 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Hollow fiber filter fouling is a common issue plaguing perfusion production process for biologics therapeutics, but the nature of filter foulant has been elusive. Here we studied cell culture materials especially Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell-derived extracellular vesicles in perfusion process to determine their role in filter fouling. We found that the decrease of CHO-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) with 50-200 nm in diameter in perfusion permeates always preceded the increase in transmembrane pressure (TMP) and subsequent decrease in product sieving, suggesting that sEVs might have been retained inside filters and contributed to filter fouling. Using scanning electron microscopy and helium ion microscopy, we found sEV-like structures in pores and on foulant patches of hollow fiber tangential flow filtration filter (HF-TFF) membranes. We also observed that the Day 28 TMP of perfusion culture correlated positively with the percentage of foulant patch areas. In addition, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy-based elemental mapping microscopy and spectroscopy analysis suggests that foulant patches had enriched cellular materials but not antifoam. Fluorescent staining results further indicate that these cellular materials could be DNA, proteins, and even adherent CHO cells. Lastly, in a small-scale HF-TFF model, addition of CHO-specific sEVs in CHO culture simulated filter fouling behaviors in a concentration-dependent manner. Based on these results, we proposed a mechanism of HF-TFF fouling, in which filter pore constriction by CHO sEVs is followed by cake formation of cellular materials on filter membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixiao Zhang
- Bioprocess Research & Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Sri Madabhushi
- Bioprocess Research & Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Tiffany Tang
- Bioprocess Research & Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Hassan Raza
- Bioprocess Research & Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - David J Busch
- Bioprocess Research & Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Xi Zhao
- Sterile and Specialty Products, Pharmaceutical Science & Clinical Supply, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - James Ormes
- Analytical Research & Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Sen Xu
- Bioprocess Research & Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Joseph Moroney
- Bioprocess Research & Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Rubin Jiang
- Bioprocess Research & Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Henry Lin
- Bioprocess Research & Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Ren Liu
- Bioprocess Research & Development, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
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5
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Keysberg C, Hertel O, Hoffrogge R, Reich S, Hornung N, Holzmann K, Otte K. Hyperthermic shift and cell engineering increase small extracellular vesicle production in HEK293F cells. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:942-958. [PMID: 38037755 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Although small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) have promising features as an emerging therapeutic format for a broad spectrum of applications, for example, blood-brain-barrier permeability, low immunogenicity, and targeted delivery, economic manufacturability will be a crucial factor for the therapeutic applicability of sEVs. In the past, bioprocess optimization and cell line engineering improved titers of classical biologics multifold. We therefore performed a design of experiments (DoE) screening to identify beneficial bioprocess conditions for sEV production in HEK293F suspension cells. Short-term hyperthermia at 40°C elevated volumetric productivity 5.4-fold while sEVs displayed improved exosomal characteristics and cells retained >90% viability. Investigating the effects of hyperthermia via transcriptomics and proteomics analyses, an expectable, cellular heat-shock response was found together with an upregulation of many exosome biogenesis and vesicle trafficking related molecules, which could cause the productivity boost in tandem with heat shock proteins (HSPs), like HSP90 and HSC70. Because of these findings, a selection of 44 genes associated with exosome biogenesis, vesicle secretion machinery, or heat-shock response was screened for their influence on sEV production. Overexpression of six genes, CHMP1A, CHMP3, CHMP5, VPS28, CD82, and EZR, significantly increased both sEV secretion and titer, making them suitable targets for cell line engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Keysberg
- Institute for Applied Biotechnology (IAB), University of Applied Sciences Biberach, Biberach, Germany
- International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine (IGradU), Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Oliver Hertel
- Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
- Cell Culture Technology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Raimund Hoffrogge
- Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
- Cell Culture Technology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Sibylle Reich
- Institute for Applied Biotechnology (IAB), University of Applied Sciences Biberach, Biberach, Germany
| | - Nadine Hornung
- Institute for Applied Biotechnology (IAB), University of Applied Sciences Biberach, Biberach, Germany
| | | | - Kerstin Otte
- Institute for Applied Biotechnology (IAB), University of Applied Sciences Biberach, Biberach, Germany
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6
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Jari M, Abdoli S, Bazi Z, Shamsabadi FT, Roshanmehr F, Shahbazi M. Enhancing protein production and growth in chinese hamster ovary cells through miR-107 overexpression. AMB Express 2024; 14:16. [PMID: 38302631 PMCID: PMC10834913 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-024-01670-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells are widely employed as host cells for biopharmaceutical production. The manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals poses several challenges, including restricted growth potential and inadequate productivity of the host cells. MicroRNAs play a crucial role in regulating gene expression and are considered highly promising tools for cell engineering to enhance protein production. Our study aimed to evaluate the effects of miR-107, which is recognized as an onco-miR, on erythropoietin-producing CHO cells (CHO-hEPO). To assess the impact of miR-107 on CHO cells, a DNA plasmid containing miR-107 was introduced to CHO-hEPO cells through transfection. Cell proliferation and viability were assessed using the trypan blue dye exclusion method. Cell cycle analysis was conducted by utilizing propidium iodide (PI) staining. The quantification of EPO was determined using an immunoassay test. Moreover, the impact of miR-107 on the expression of downstream target genes was evaluated using qRT-PCR. Our findings highlight and underscore the substantial impact of transient miR-107 overexpression, which led to a remarkable 2.7-fold increase in EPO titers and a significant 1.6-fold increase in the specific productivity of CHO cells (p < 0.01). Furthermore, this intervention resulted in significant enhancements in cell viability and growth rate (p < 0.05). Intriguingly, the overexpression of miR‑107 was linked to the downregulation of LATS2, PTEN, and TSC1 genes while concurrently driving upregulation in transcript levels of MYC, YAP, mTOR, and S6K genes within transgenic CHO cells. In conclusion, this study collectively underscores the feasibility of utilizing cancer-associated miRNAs as a powerful tool for CHO cell engineering. However, more in-depth exploration is warranted to unravel the precise molecular intricacies of miR-107's effects in the context of CHO cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Jari
- Medical Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Shastkola Road, Falsafi Complex, Gorgan, Zip code: 4934174611, Iran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Shahriyar Abdoli
- Medical Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Shastkola Road, Falsafi Complex, Gorgan, Zip code: 4934174611, Iran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Zahra Bazi
- Medical Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Shastkola Road, Falsafi Complex, Gorgan, Zip code: 4934174611, Iran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Tash Shamsabadi
- Medical Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Shastkola Road, Falsafi Complex, Gorgan, Zip code: 4934174611, Iran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Farnaz Roshanmehr
- Medical Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Shastkola Road, Falsafi Complex, Gorgan, Zip code: 4934174611, Iran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Majid Shahbazi
- Medical Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Shastkola Road, Falsafi Complex, Gorgan, Zip code: 4934174611, Iran.
- AryaTina Gene (ATG) Biopharmaceutical Company Gorgan, Gorgan, Iran.
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7
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Belliveau J, Thompson W, Papoutsakis ET. Kinetic and functional analysis of abundant microRNAs in extracellular vesicles from normal and stressed cultures of Chinese hamster ovary cells. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:118-130. [PMID: 37859509 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells release and exchange large quantities of extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are highly enriched in microRNAs (miRs, or miRNAs), which are responsible for most of their biological effects. We have recently shown that the miR content of CHO EVs varies significantly under culture stress conditions. Here, we provide a novel stoichiometric ("per-EV") quantification of miR and protein levels in large CHO EVs produced under ammonia, lactate, osmotic, and age-related stress. Each stress resulted in distinct EV miR levels, with selective miR loading by parent cells. Our data provide a proof of concept for the use of CHO EV cargo as a diagnostic tool for identifying culture stress. We also tested the impact of three select miRs (let-7a, miR-21, and miR-92a) on CHO cell growth and viability. Let-7a-abundant in CHO EVs from stressed cultures-reduced CHO cell viability, while miR-92a-abundant in CHO EVs from unstressed cultures-promoted cell survival. Overexpression of miR-21 had a slight detrimental impact on CHO cell growth and viability during late exponential-phase culture, an unexpected result based on the reported antiapoptotic role of miR-21 in other mammalian cell lines. These findings provide novel relationships between CHO EV cargo and cell phenotype, suggesting that CHO EVs may exert both pro- and antiapoptotic effects on target cells, depending on the conditions under which they were produced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Belliveau
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
- Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Will Thompson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
- Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Eleftherios T Papoutsakis
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
- Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
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8
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Wysor SK, Marcus RK. Quantitative Recoveries of Exosomes and Monoclonal Antibodies from Chinese Hamster Ovary Cell Cultures by Use of a Single, Integrated Two-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography Method. Anal Chem 2023; 95:17886-17893. [PMID: 37995145 PMCID: PMC11095952 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Cultured cell lines are very commonly used for the mass production of therapeutic proteins, such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). In particular, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines are widely employed due to their high tolerance to variations in experimental conditions and their ability to grow in suspension or serum free media. CHO cell lines are known for their ability to produce high titers of biotherapeutic products such as immunoglobulin G (IgG). An emergent alternative means of treating diseases, such as cancer, is the use of gene therapies, wherein genetic cargo is "packaged" in nanosized vesicular structures, referred to as "vectors". One particularly attractive vector option is extracellular vesicles (EVs), of which exosomes are of greatest interest. While exosomes can be harvested from virtually any human body fluid, bovine milk, or even plants, their production in cell cultures is an attractive commercial approach. In fact, the same CHO cell types employed for mAb production also produce exosomes as a natural byproduct. Here, we describe a single integrated 2D liquid chromatography (2DLC) method for the quantitative recovery of both exosomes and antibodies from a singular sample aliquot. At the heart of the method is the use of polyester capillary-channeled polymer (C-CP) fibers as the first dimension column, wherein exosomes/EVs are captured from the supernatant sample and subsequently determined by multiangle light scattering (MALS), while the mAbs are captured, eluted, and quantified using a protein A-modified C-CP fiber column in the second dimension, all in a 10 min workflow. These efforts demonstrate the versatility of the C-CP fiber phases with the capacity to harvest both forms of therapeutics from a single bioreactor, suggesting an appreciable potential impact in the field of biotherapeutics production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K Wysor
- Department of Chemistry, Biosystems Research Complex, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634-0973, United States
| | - R Kenneth Marcus
- Department of Chemistry, Biosystems Research Complex, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634-0973, United States
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9
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Belliveau J, Papoutsakis ET. The microRNomes of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and their extracellular vesicles, and how they respond to osmotic and ammonia stress. Biotechnol Bioeng 2023; 120:2700-2716. [PMID: 36788116 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
A new area of focus in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) biotechnology is the role of small (exosomes) and large (microvesicles or microparticles) extracellular vesicles (EVs). CHO cells in culture exchange large quantities of proteins and RNA through these EVs, yet the content and role of these EVs remain elusive. MicroRNAs (miRs or miRNA) are central to adaptive responses to stress and more broadly to changes in culture conditions. Given that EVs are highly enriched in miRs, and that EVs release large quantities of miRs both in vivo and in vitro, EVs and their miR content likely play an important role in adaptive responses. Here we report the miRNA landscape of CHO cells and their EVs under normal culture conditions and under ammonia and osmotic stress. We show that both cells and EVs are highly enriched in five miRs (among over 600 miRs) that make up about half of their total miR content, and that these highly enriched miRs differ significantly between normal and stress culture conditions. Notable is the high enrichment in miR-92a and miR-23a under normal culture conditions, in contrast to the high enrichment in let-7 family miRs (let-7c, let-7b, and let-7a) under both stress conditions. The latter suggests a preserved stress-responsive function of the let-7 miR family, one of the most highly preserved miR families across species, where among other functions, let-7 miRs regulate core oncogenes, which, depending on the biological context, may tip the balance between cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. While the expected-based on their profound enrichment-important role of these highly enriched miRs remains to be dissected, our data and analysis constitute an important resource for exploring the role of miRs in cell adaptation as well as for synthetic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Belliveau
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
- Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Eleftherios T Papoutsakis
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
- Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
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10
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Steć A, Targońska M, Karkosińska E, Słowik M, Płoska A, Kalinowski L, Wielgomas B, Waleron K, Jasiecki J, Dziomba S. Protein overproduction alters exosome secretion in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Anal Bioanal Chem 2023:10.1007/s00216-023-04725-4. [PMID: 37160422 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-023-04725-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Despite the abundance of available cell lines, nearly 70% of all recombinant therapeutic proteins today are produced in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The impact of protein overproduction on the secretion of exosomes by CHO cells has been investigated here. Increased secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs) by protein overexpressing CHO cells was demonstrated with protein content assay, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and capillary electrophoresis. Our results revealed that a protein overproduction might induce EVs secretion, which might be accompanied by the sequestration and loading of overexpressed proteins into the exosomes. These findings are of vital importance for the manufacturing of therapeutics in CHO expression systems due to the risk of product loss during downstream processing of culture medium as well as the application of exosomes as nanocarriers of therapeutic proteins. The study indicates also the importance of culturing process control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Steć
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, 107 Hallera Street, 80-416, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Monika Targońska
- Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, Medical University of Gdańsk, 1 Dębinki Street, 80-211, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Edyta Karkosińska
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, 107 Hallera Street, 80-416, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Monika Słowik
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, 107 Hallera Street, 80-416, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Agata Płoska
- Department of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics-Fahrenheit Biobank BBMRI.pl, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, 7 Debinki Street, 80-211, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Leszek Kalinowski
- Department of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics-Fahrenheit Biobank BBMRI.pl, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, 7 Debinki Street, 80-211, Gdansk, Poland
- BioTechMed Centre, Department of Mechanics of Materials and Structures, Gdansk University of Technology, 11/12 Narutowicza Street, 80-233, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Bartosz Wielgomas
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, 107 Hallera Street, 80-416, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Waleron
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, 107 Hallera Street, 80-416, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Jacek Jasiecki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, 107 Hallera Street, 80-416, Gdansk, Poland.
| | - Szymon Dziomba
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdansk, 107 Hallera Street, 80-416, Gdansk, Poland.
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11
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Bazaz M, Adeli A, Azizi M, Karimipoor M, Mahboudi F, Davoudi N. Overexpression of miR-32 in Chinese hamster ovary cells increases production of Fc-fusion protein. AMB Express 2023; 13:45. [PMID: 37160545 PMCID: PMC10170017 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-023-01540-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The demand for industrial genetically modified host cells were increased with the growth of the biopharmaceutical market. Numerous studies on improving host cell productivity have shown that altering host cell growth and viability through genetic engineering can increase recombinant protein production. During the last decades, it was demonstrated that overexpression or downregulation of some microRNAs in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells as the host cell in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, can improve their productivity. The selection of microRNA targets has been based on their previously identified role in human cancers. MicroRNA-32 (miR-32), which is conserved between humans and hamsters (Crisetulus griseus), was shown to play a role in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis in some human cancers. In this study, we investigated the effect of miR-32 overexpression on the productivity of CHO-VEGF-trap cells. Our results indicated that stable overexpression of miR-32 could dramatically increase the productivity of CHO cells by 1.8-fold. It also significantly increases cell viability, batch culture longevity, and cell growth. To achieve these results, following the construction of a single clone producing an Fc-fusion protein, we transfected cells with a pLexJRed-miR-32 plasmid to stably produce the microRNA and evaluate the impact of mir-32 overexpression on cell productivity, growth and viability in compare with scrambled control. Our findings highlight the application of miRNAs as engineering tools and indicated that miR-32 could be a target for engineering CHO cells to increase cell productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoume Bazaz
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Adeli
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Azizi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Morteza Karimipoor
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Freidoun Mahboudi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Noushin Davoudi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
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12
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Thompson W, Papoutsakis ET. The role of biomechanical stress in extracellular vesicle formation, composition and activity. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 66:108158. [PMID: 37105240 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cornerstones of intercellular communication with exciting fundamental, clinical, and more broadly biotechnological applications. However, variability in EV composition, which results from the culture conditions used to generate the EVs, poses significant fundamental and applied challenges and a hurdle for scalable bioprocessing. Thus, an understanding of the relationship between EV production (and for clinical applications, manufacturing) and EV composition is increasingly recognized as important and necessary. While chemical stimulation and culture conditions such as cell density are known to influence EV biology, the impact of biomechanical forces on the generation, properties, and biological activity of EVs remains poorly understood. Given the omnipresence of these forces in EV preparation and in biomanufacturing, expanding the understanding of their impact on EV composition-and thus, activity-is vital. Although several publications have examined EV preparation and bioprocessing and briefly discussed biomechanical stresses as variables of interest, this review represents the first comprehensive evaluation of the impact of such stresses on EV production, composition and biological activity. We review how EV biogenesis, cargo, efficacy, and uptake are uniquely affected by various types, magnitudes, and durations of biomechanical forces, identifying trends that emerge both generically and for individual cell types. We also describe implications for scalable bioprocessing, evaluating processes inherent in common EV production and isolation methods, and propose a path forward for rigorous EV quality control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Will Thompson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 590 Avenue 1743, Newark, DE 19713, USA
| | - Eleftherios Terry Papoutsakis
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, 590 Avenue 1743, Newark, DE 19713, USA.
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13
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Keysberg C, Schneider H, Otte K. Production cell analysis and compound-based boosting of small extracellular vesicle secretion using a generic and scalable production platform. Biotechnol Bioeng 2023; 120:987-999. [PMID: 36577715 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a novel format of advanced therapeutical medicinal products (ATMPs). They can act regenerative or immune-modulatory as cell therapy substitutes or as a platform for designer exosomes. The biotechnological production of therapeutic EVs is still very much uncharted territory so standardized host cells, production setups, and isolation methods are not yet implemented. In this work, we present a tangential flow filtration (TFF) and fast-performance liquid chromatography (FPLC)-based size exclusion chromatography (SEC) purification setup that is compatible for industry applications. Moreover, we evaluated a series of potential host cell lines regarding their EV productivity, characteristics, and biological functionality. It was found that telomerase-immortalized Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stromal cells (WJ-MSC/TERT273) secrete high amounts of EVs per cell with regenerative capabilities. On the other hand, Cevec's amniocyte producer cells® (CAP®) and human embryonic kidney (HEK293) suspension cells are suitable platforms for designer EVs with high yields. Finally, we aimed to boost the EV secretion of HEK293 cells via chemical adjuvants and verified four compounds that heighten cellular EV secretion in a presumably cAMP-dependent manner. A combination of fenoterol, iodoacetamide, and dinitrophenol increased the EV yield in HEK293 cells threefold and cellular secretion rate fivefold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Keysberg
- Institute for Applied Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Biberach, Biberach, Germany
- International Graduate School for Molecular Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Helga Schneider
- Institute for Applied Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Biberach, Biberach, Germany
| | - Kerstin Otte
- Institute for Applied Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Biberach, Biberach, Germany
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14
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Skrika-Alexopoulos E, Mark Smales C. Isolation and characterisation of exosomes from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Biotechnol Lett 2023; 45:425-437. [PMID: 36708458 PMCID: PMC10038950 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-023-03353-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Exosomes have previously been isolated from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and their anti-apoptotic properties reported. However, to further facilitate the study of CHO cell derived exosomes and allow their comparison across studies, it is necessary to characterise and define such exosomes using at least three criteria that can act as a reference for the generation of CHO cell produced exosomes. Here we report on the isolation of exosomes from CHO cells, an industrially relevant and widely used cell host for biopharmaceutical protein production, during the exponential and stationary phase of growth during batch culture using a Total Exosome Isolation (TEI) method. The resulting vesicles were characterized and visualized using a diverse range of techniques including Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Zeta potential, Electron Microscopy and immunoblotting, and their protein and RNA content determined. We also generated the lipid fingerprint of isolated exosomes using MALDI-ToF mass spectroscopy. We confirmed the presence of nano sized extracellular vesicles from CHO cells and their subsequent characterization revealed details of their size, homogeneity, surface charge, protein and RNA content. The lipid content of exosomes was also found to differ between exosomes isolated on different days of batch culture. This analysis provides a profile and characterisation of CHO cell exosomes to aid future studies on exosomes from CHO cells and improving the manufacturing of exosomes for biotherapeutic application.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - C Mark Smales
- Industrial Biotechnology Centre and School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NJ, UK.
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15
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Hausjell CS, Ernst W, Grünwald-Gruber C, Arcalis E, Grabherr R. Quantitative proteomic analysis of extracellular vesicles in response to baculovirus infection of a Trichoplusia ni cell line. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281060. [PMID: 36716331 PMCID: PMC9886248 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to its outstanding suitability to produce complex biopharmaceutical products including virus-like particles and subunit vaccines, the baculovirus/insect cell expression system has developed into a highly popular production platform in the biotechnological industry. For high productivity, virus-cell communication and an efficient spreading of the viral infection are crucial, and, in this context, extracellular vesicles (EVs) might play a significant role. EVs are small particles, utilized by cells to transfer biologically active compounds such as proteins, lipids as well as nucleic acids to recipient cells for intracellular communication. Studies in mammalian cells showed that the release of EVs is altered in response to infection with many viruses, ultimately either limiting or fostering infection spreading. In this study we isolated and characterized EVs, from both uninfected and baculovirus infected Tnms42 insect cells. Via quantitative proteomic analysis we identified more than 3000 T. ni proteins in Tnms42 cell derived EVs, of which more than 400 were significantly differentially abundant upon baculovirus infection. Subsequent gene set enrichment analysis revealed a depletion of proteins related to the extracellular matrix in EVs from infected cultures. Our findings show a significant change of EV protein cargo upon baculovirus infection, suggesting a major role of EVs as stress markers. Our study might serve in designing new tools for process monitoring and control to further improve biopharmaceutical production within the baculovirus/insect cell expression system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Sophie Hausjell
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Ernst
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Clemens Grünwald-Gruber
- Core Facility Mass Spectrometry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elsa Arcalis
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Plant Biotechnology and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Reingard Grabherr
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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16
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The potential of emerging sub-omics technologies for CHO cell engineering. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 59:107978. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.107978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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17
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Busch DJ, Zhang Y, Kumar A, Huhn SC, Du Z, Liu R. Identification of RNA Content of CHO-derived Extracellular Vesicles from a Production Process. J Biotechnol 2022; 348:36-46. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2022.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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18
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Exploring synthetic biology for the development of a sensor cell line for automated bioprocess control. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2268. [PMID: 35145179 PMCID: PMC8831625 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06272-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Unfavorable process conditions lead to adverse cultivation states, limited cell growth and thus hamper biotherapeutic protein production. Oxygen deficiency or hyperosmolality are among the most critical process conditions and therefore require continuous monitoring. We established a novel sensor CHO cell line with the ability to automatically sense and report unwanted process conditions by the expression of destabilized fluorescent proteins. To this end, an inducible real-time system to detect hypoxia by hypoxia response elements (HREs) of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) origin reporting limitations by the expression of destabilized green fluorescent protein (GFP) was created. Additionally, we established a technique for observing hyperosmolality by exploiting osmotic response elements (OREs) for the expression of unstable blue fluorescent protein (BFP, FKBP-BFP), enabling the simultaneous automated supervision of two bioprocess parameters by using a dual sensor CHO cell line transfected with a multiplexable monitoring system. We finally also provided a fully automated in-line fluorescence microscopy-based setup to observe CHO cells and their response to varying culture conditions. In summary, we created the first CHO cell line, reporting unfavorable process parameters to the operator, and provided a novel and promising sensor technology accelerating the implementation of the process analytical technology (PAT) initiative by innovative solutions.
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19
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Belliveau J, Papoutsakis ET. Extracellular Vesicles Facilitate Large-Scale Dynamic Exchange of Proteins and RNA Among Cultured Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) and Human Cells. Biotechnol Bioeng 2022; 119:1222-1238. [PMID: 35120270 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Cells in culture are viewed as unique individuals in a large population communicating through extracellular molecules and, more recently extracellular vesicles (EVs). Our data here paint a different picture: large-scale exchange of cellular material through EVs. To visualize the dynamic production and cellular uptake of EVs, we used correlative confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, as well as flow cytometry to interrogate labeled cells. Using cells expressing fluorescent proteins (GFP, miRFP703) and cells tagged with protein and RNA dyes, we show that Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells dynamically produce and uptake EVs to exchange proteins and RNAs at a large scale. Applying a simple model to our data, we estimate, for the first time, the per cell specific rates of EV production (68 and 203 microparticles and exosomes, respectively, per day). This EV-mediated massive exchange of cellular material observed in CHO cultures was also observed in cultured human CHRF-288-11 and primary hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. This study demonstrates an underappreciated massive protein and RNA exchange between cells mediated by EVs spanning cell type, suggesting that the proximity of cells in normal and tumor tissues may also result in prolific exchange of cellular material. This exchange would be expected to homogenize the cell-population cytosol and dynamically regulate cell proliferation and the cellular state. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Belliveau
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19711.,Delaware Biotechnology Institute,, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19711
| | - Eleftherios T Papoutsakis
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19711.,Delaware Biotechnology Institute,, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19711.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 19711
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