The role of recombinant proteins in the development of serum-free media

Abstract

Early developments in serum-free media led to a variety of formulations in which components normally provided in serum and required for growth (insulin, transferrin, lipid supplements, trace elements) and poorly defined components (extracts, hydrolysates) were added to defined basal media. These additives were mostly animal-derived. Given recent concerns about TSEs (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies) and other adventitious agents, the drive in media formulations must be towards elimination of animal-origin materials while maintaining cell line productivity. The progress made towards removing animal-derived components and the use of recombinant proteins in serum-free media for mammalian cells is reviewed.

Chickpea protein hydrolysate as a substitute for serum in cell culture

“…6), while Caco-2 cells stopped growing only three passages into the culture. The failure to support Caco-2 cells growth is consistent with the fact that cells that grow in suspension, like THP-1 and many other cell lines used for production of biopharmaceuticals, are more easily grown in serum-free medium than anchoragedependent cells such as the Caco-2 cell line (Keenan et al 2006). Alternatively, it would also be conceivable that this failure might be due to the presence of residual amounts of non-peptidic bioactive components that were previously found to inhibit Caco-2 growth (Girón-Calle et al 2004).…”

“…Culture media are usually prepared by combining a mixture of nutrients including salts, amino acids, vitamins, glucose, and serum (Keenan et al 2006). Serum, most frequently fetal bovine serum (FBS), is the most expensive component in cell culture media, and sustains growth by providing a mixture of growth factors and nutrients which are not always well characterized and/or too expensive in pure form.…”

Large-scale production of functional human serum albumin from transgenic rice seeds

“…FBS is widely used in cell culture as a necessary nutritional supplement, but problems related to reliability, variability, and biological contaminants limit its use in industrial-scale cultures (33). In recent years, there has been an increased demand for animal-free components to replace serum-or animal-originated supplements to eliminate the risk of passage of prion-related diseases to humans (12).…”

Optimization of chemically defined cell culture media – Replacing fetal bovine serum in mammalian in vitro methods

“…However, BSA is derived from animals and may either be contaminated or may contain impurities (Taub, 1990). Nowadays, recombinant proteins, including albumin, are available for animal component-free cell culture (Keenan et al, 2006).…”