Hybridoma expression systems

Antibodies are expressed by hybridoma cells formed by cell fusion of sensitized animal or human B lymphocytes with myeloma cells, or they are generated by EBV (Epstein-Barr virus) transformation of sensitized B lymphocytes. Other heterologous expression systems such as bacteria, yeast, insect cells, and mammalian cells have also been used for expression of antibodies and their fragments. However, because of renaturation problems, glycosylation, and expression levels, mammalian cells are mostly used for the expression of monoclonal antibodies. More recently, technologies have been extensively developed for the expression of antibodies in transgenic animals and transgenic plants. 

This section focuses on the generation of engineered mammalian cell lines that stably produce therapeutic proteins. Hybridomas, transient expression systems, and insect and bacterial cell line development are outside the scope of this section. The commonly used cell lines, expression systems and vectors, as well as cell banking and stability are described. 

Note. Overview on the currently worldwide commercialized recombinant pharmaceuticals and the expression systems employed for their production. The substances are not listed strictly alphabetically but are partially grouped according to therapeutic areas. Antibodies, which are mostly manufactured by hybridoma cell line systems, are not considered. Data were extracted from the European patent database Esp cenet (http //de.espacenet.com) and the IDdbS-database (http //www.iddb3.com). BHK = baby hamster kidney CHO = Chinese hamster ovary. (Taken from Ref. 16 Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg)... 

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