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Zhang J, Yang W, Zhang L, Li W, Zhang X, Wang X, Wang T. Novel and effective screening system for recombinant protein production in CHO cells. Sci Rep 2024; 14:20856. [PMID: 39242806 PMCID: PMC11379927 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-71915-0] [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: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024] Open
Abstract
At present, biopharmaceuticals have received extensive attention from the society, among which recombinant proteins have a good growth trend and a large market share. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are the preferred mammalian system to produce glycosylated recombinant protein drugs. A highly efficient and stable cell screening method needs to be developed to obtain more and useful recombinant proteins. Limited dilution method, cell sorting, and semi-solid medium screening are currently the commonly used cell cloning methods. These methods are time-consuming and labor-intensive, and they have the disadvantage of low clone survival rate. Here, a method based on semi-solid medium was developed to screen out high-yielding and stable cell line within 3 weeks to improve the screening efficiency. The semi-solid medium was combined with an expression vector containing red fluorescent protein (RFP) for early cell line development. In accordance with the fluorescence intensity of RFP, the expression of upstream target gene could be indicated, and the fluorescence intensity was in direct proportion to the expression of upstream target gene. In conclusion, semi-solid medium combined with bicistronic expression vector provides an efficient method for screening stable and highly expressed cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhe Zhang
- Institutes of Health Central Plains, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang, 453003, Henan Province, China.
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang, 453003, Henan Province, China.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China.
| | - Wenwen Yang
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang, 453003, Henan Province, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Liao Zhang
- Institutes of Health Central Plains, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang, 453003, Henan Province, China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang, 453003, Henan Province, China
| | - Wenqing Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang, 453003, Henan Province, China
| | - Xiaoyin Wang
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang, 453003, Henan Province, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Tianyun Wang
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang, 453003, Henan Province, China.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China.
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Liu HN, Wang XY, Zou Y, Wu WB, Lin Y, Ji BY, Wang TY. Synthetic enhancers including TFREs improve transgene expression in CHO cells. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26901. [PMID: 38468921 PMCID: PMC10926067 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The human cytomegalovirus major immediate early gene (CMV) promoter is currently the most preferred promoter for recombinant therapeutic proteins (RTPs) production in CHO cells. To enhance the production of RTPs, five synthetic enhancers including multiple transcription factor regulatory elements (TFREs) were evaluated to enhance recombinant protein level in transient and stably transfected CHO cells. Compared with the control, four elements can enhance the report genes expression under both two transfected states. Further, the function of these four enhancers on human serum albumin (HSA) were investigated. We found that the transient expression can increase by up to 1.5 times, and the stably expression can maximum increase by up to 2.14 times. The enhancement of transgene expression was caused by the boost of their corresponding mRNA levels. Transcriptomics analysis was performed and found that transcriptional activation and cell cycle regulation genes were involved. In conclusion, optimization of enhancers in the CMV promoter could increase the production yield of transgene in transfected CHO cells, which has significance for developing high-yield CHO cell expression system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ning Liu
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
- SanQuan College of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Xiao-Yin Wang
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Ying Zou
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Wen-Bao Wu
- Shanghai Immunocan Biotech Co., LTD, Shanghai 200000, China
| | - Yan Lin
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Bo-Yu Ji
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Tian-Yun Wang
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
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Zhang J, Wang TY, Zhang C, Mi C, Geng S, Tang Y, Wang X. CMV/AAT promoter of MAR-based episomal vector enhanced transgene expression in human hepatic cells. 3 Biotech 2023; 13:354. [PMID: 37810190 PMCID: PMC10558423 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-023-03774-x] [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: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
We have previously developed a non-viral episomal vector based on matrix attachment region (MAR) that can facilitate plasmid replication episomally in mammal cells. In this study, we have focused on the development of an alternative tissue specific episomal vector by incorporating into cis-acting elements. We found that AAT promoter demonstrated the highest eGFP expression level in HepG2, Huh-7 and HL-7702 hepatic cells. Furthermore, hCMV enhancer when combined with AAT promoter significantly improved the eGFP expression level in the transfected HepG2 cells. The mean fluorescence intensity of eGFP in hCMV2 group was 1.33 fold, which was higher than that of the control (p < 0.01), followed by the hCMV1 group (1.21 fold). In addition, the percentages of eGFP-expressing cells in hCMV1 and hCMV2 groups were observed to be 49.3% and 57.2%, which were significantly higher than that of the enhancer-devoid control vector (44.3%) (p < 0.05). Moreover, the eGFP protein were up to 3.5 fold and 5.1 fold (p < 0.05), respectively. This observation could be related with the activities of some specific transcription factors (TFs) during the transcriptional process, such as SRF, REL and CREB1. The composite CMV/AAT promoter can be thus used for efficient transgene expression of MAR-based episomal vector in liver cells and as a potential gene transfer tools for the management of liver diseases. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03774-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihong Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang, 453003 Henan Province China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang, 453003 China
| | - Tian-Yun Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang, 453003 Henan Province China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang, 453003 China
| | - Chunbo Zhang
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453000 China
| | - Chunliu Mi
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang, 453003 Henan Province China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang, 453003 China
| | - Shaolei Geng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang, 453003 Henan Province China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang, 453003 China
| | - Yuanyuan Tang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang, 453003 Henan Province China
| | - Xiaoyin Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang, 453003 Henan Province China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang, 453003 China
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Yoon C, Baek KE, Kim D, Lee GM. Mitigating transcriptional bottleneck using a constitutively active transcription factor, VP16-CREB, in mammalian cells. Metab Eng 2023; 80:33-44. [PMID: 37709006 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2023.09.005] [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: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
High-level expression of recombinant proteins in mammalian cells has long been an area of interest. Inefficient transcription machinery is often an obstacle in achieving high-level expression of recombinant proteins in mammalian cells. Synthetic promoters have been developed to improve the transcription efficiency, but have achieved limited success due to the limited availability of transcription factors (TFs). Here, we present a TF-engineering approach to mitigate the transcriptional bottlenecks of recombinant proteins. This includes: (i) identification of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) as a candidate TF by searching for TFs enriched in the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter-driven high-producing recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cell lines via transcriptome analysis, (ii) confirmation of transcriptional limitation of active CREB in rCHO cell lines, and (iii) direct activation of the transgene promoter by expressing constitutively active CREB at non-cytotoxic levels in rCHO cell lines. With the expression of constitutively active VP16-CREB, the production of therapeutic proteins, such as monoclonal antibody and etanercept, in CMV promoter-driven rCHO cell lines was increased up to 3.9-fold. VP16-CREB was also used successfully with synthetic promoters containing cAMP response elements. Taken together, this strategy to introduce constitutively active TFs into cells is a useful means of overcoming the transcriptional limitations in recombinant mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chansik Yoon
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoung Eun Baek
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongil Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyun Min Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
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Meskova K, Martonova K, Hrasnova P, Sinska K, Skrabanova M, Fialova L, Njemoga S, Cehlar O, Parmar O, Kolenko P, Pevala V, Skrabana R. Cost-Effective Protein Production in CHO Cells Following Polyethylenimine-Mediated Gene Delivery Showcased by the Production and Crystallization of Antibody Fabs. Antibodies (Basel) 2023; 12:51. [PMID: 37606435 PMCID: PMC10443350 DOI: 10.3390/antib12030051] [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: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Laboratory production of recombinant mammalian proteins, particularly antibodies, requires an expression pipeline assuring sufficient yield and correct folding with appropriate posttranslational modifications. Transient gene expression (TGE) in the suspension-adapted Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell lines has become the method of choice for this task. The antibodies can be secreted into the media, which facilitates subsequent purification, and can be glycosylated. However, in general, protein production in CHO cells is expensive and may provide variable outcomes, namely in laboratories without previous experience. While achievable yields may be influenced by the nucleotide sequence, there are other aspects of the process which offer space for optimization, like gene delivery method, cultivation process or expression plasmid design. Polyethylenimine (PEI)-mediated gene delivery is frequently employed as a low-cost alternative to liposome-based methods. In this work, we are proposing a TGE platform for universal medium-scale production of antibodies and other proteins in CHO cells, with a novel expression vector allowing fast and flexible cloning of new genes and secretion of translated proteins. The production cost has been further reduced using recyclable labware. Nine days after transfection, we routinely obtain milligrams of antibody Fabs or human lactoferrin in a 25 mL culture volume. Potential of the platform is established based on the production and crystallization of antibody Fabs and their complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaudia Meskova
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10 Bratislava, Slovakia
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Katarina Martonova
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10 Bratislava, Slovakia
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Patricia Hrasnova
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Kristina Sinska
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, 811 02 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michaela Skrabanova
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lubica Fialova
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10 Bratislava, Slovakia
- AXON Neuroscience R&D Services SE, 811 02 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Stefana Njemoga
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10 Bratislava, Slovakia
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ondrej Cehlar
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Olga Parmar
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Petr Kolenko
- Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, 115 19 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimir Pevala
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 51 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Rostislav Skrabana
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 845 10 Bratislava, Slovakia
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Leal AF, Alméciga-Díaz CJ. Efficient CRISPR/Cas9 nickase-mediated genome editing in an in vitro model of mucopolysaccharidosis IVA. Gene Ther 2023; 30:107-114. [PMID: 35581402 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-022-00344-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA (MPS IVA) is a lysosomal storage disorder (LSD) caused by mutations in gene encoding for GALNS enzyme. Lack of GALNS activity leads to the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) keratan sulfate and chondroitin 6-sulfate. Although enzyme replacement therapy has been approved since 2014 for MPS IVA, still there is an unmet medical need to have improved therapies for this disorder. CRISPR/Cas9-based gene therapy has been tested for several LSDs with encouraging findings, but to date it has not been assayed on MPS IVA. In this work, we validated for the first time the use of CRISPR/Cas9, using a Cas9 nickase, for the knock-in of an expression cassette containing GALNS cDNA in an in vitro model of MPS IVA. The results showed the successful homologous recombination of the expression cassette into the AAVS1 locus, as well as a long-term increase in GALNS activity reaching up to 40% of wild-type levels. We also observed normalization of lysosomal mass, total GAGs, and oxidative stress, which are some of the major findings regarding the pathophysiological events in MPS IVA. These results represent a proof-of-concept of the use of CRISPR/Cas9 nickase strategy for the development of a novel therapeutic alternative for MPS IVA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Felipe Leal
- Institute for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Faculty of Science, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C., 110231, Colombia
| | - Carlos Javier Alméciga-Díaz
- Institute for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Faculty of Science, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C., 110231, Colombia.
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