Erythropoietin Production from CHO Cells Grown in a Fluidized-Bed Bioreactor with Macroporous Beads

Abstract

A stable CHO cell line that expresses human erythropoietin (huEPO) was grown in a Cytopilot fluidized-bed bioreactor for 48 days with a variable perfusion rate. The cells were entrapped in porous microcarriers (400 ml) within the main column of the bioreactor (2 litre). EPO accumulated to a total production of 28,000 kUnits over the culture period. The specific EPO production increased during the later part of the culture probably in response to a higher glucose concentration and an addition of sodium butyrate. The cell density increased to per ml beads. The culture profile in the fluidized-bed bioreactor was compared with three modes of batch culture. The high volumetric yield of EPO attained in the Cytopilot bioreactor indicates its potential as a system for large-scale production.