Kinetic study of hybridoma metabolism and antibody production in continuous culture using serum-free medium

Abstract

Effects of glucose and glutamine on metabolism and antibody production were investigated in continuous culture of hybridoma cells using a serum-free medium. Viable cell concentration remained virtually constant during culture. The production of inhibitory metabolites, such as lactate and ammonium, could be reduced by keeping the concentration of glucose or glutamine in the medium at a low level. The specific production rate of antibody at a low glucose or glutamine concentration was 3-fold higher than that at high concentrations of glucose and glutamine (greater than 2.5 mM and 1.0 mM, respectively). The results obtained in this study suggest that maintaining the concentrations of glucose and glutamine at low levels in a hybridoma culture is important for reducing the formation of inhibitory metabolites and to maintain high antibody productivity.