Optimization of a Perfused Stirred Tank Bioreactor Process for rhEPO Production

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a sialoglycoprotein hormone that regulates red blood cell production. This hormone is mainly produced by the kidney in human adults and anemia associated with renal failure often results from decreased level of EPO. This observation has led to the recombinant expression and subsequent therapeutic use of EPO for patients with chronic renal failure. Since the sugar chains of EPO play an important role in the expression of its biological activity, animal cells are selected as host cells for the production of recombinant human EPO (rhEPO). For its commercial production several methods have been described. In the present study, recombinant BHK cells producing human EPO were adapted to suspension growth and culture conditions were optimized in order to carry out the scaling up without carriers in a perfused stirred tank bioreactor.