Human Host Cell Fusion for Stable EBV Genome Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Human host cells used for producing recombinant proteins often lose Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genomes during cultivation, leading to a loss of beneficial properties for effective expression of heterologous genes, particularly in cell lines like HKB cells.

Innovation Solution

A human host cell line is generated by fusing a human embryonic kidney-derived cell, such as a 293 cell, with a human B-cell-derived cell, like Namalwa, with the EBV genome integrated into its chromosomes, ensuring stable expression of EBNA1 and glycosylation profiles similar to humans, and lacking IgM expression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If HKB cells are used for producing recombinant proteins, then transfection efficiency and protein secretion are improved, but EBV genome is lost during cultivation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransfection efficiency and protein secretionVSAvoidEBV genome stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the EBV genome into the chromosomal DNA of the host cell rather than maintaining it as a separate episomal element. This integration ensures that the EBV genome is replicated and inherited stably during cell division, preventing the loss observed in traditional HKB cells while maintaining the beneficial properties for protein production

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The EBV genome is integrated into the host cell chromosome before the establishment of the cell line for protein production. This preliminary integration action ensures that subsequent cell passages and cultivations will maintain stable EBV genome presence without requiring continuous selection pressure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If human embryonic kidney cells are used for protein production, then human-like glycosylation profiles are achieved, but aggregation occurs in serum-free suspension culture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglycosylation profile qualityVSAvoidculture process stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines human embryonic kidney cells (providing human-like glycosylation) with B-cell-derived cells (providing suspension culture adaptability). This cell fusion creates a hybrid cell line that inherits the glycosylation capabilities of renal cells while gaining the suspension culture properties of B-cell lines, eliminating aggregation issues

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If cell fusion is performed to combine beneficial properties, then transfection efficiency and protein secretion are improved, but cell line complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotein secretion capacityVSAvoidcell line genetic complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and integrates only the essential EBV genome into the host cell chromosome, removing the need for maintaining complex episomal structures or multiple plasmid systems. This extraction approach simplifies the overall cell line architecture while preserving the key functional benefits for protein production

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2274418B1Human host cell for producing recombinant proteins with high quality and quantity
Publication Date: 2018.10.10 CELLTRION INC
  • EP2274418B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2274418B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~3
  • EP2274418B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

The present invention relates to a human host cell generated from fusion of a human embryonic kidney-derived cell and a human B-cell-derived cell, by using genetic engineering techniques. The human host cell with stable characteristics well preserved may be efficiently used to produce heterologous desired recombinant protein-based pharmaceuticals.