Chromosomes Of Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells Research Articles

Evaluation of levamlodipine benzenesulfonate compound I for embryo-fetal developmental toxicity in SD rats and genotoxicity

In the present study, the effects of levamlodipine benzenesulfonate on the development of fertile Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, their embryos, and littermates were assessed using an embryo-fetal developmental toxicity test. Maternal body weight reduction was observed at a dose of 20 mg/kg, but it recovered after treatment cessation. The 20 mg/kg dose group showed a skewed sex ratio in fetal rats, with a higher proportion of males. While some effects on fetal sternum development were observed at 20 mg/kg, no skeletal malformations were observed. No significant gross morphological abnormalities were detected in the dams (mothers), no significant embryotoxicity or foetotoxicity in fetal rats and no significant effects on fetal length and weight development at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg. Genotoxicity was evaluated using a combination of the Ames test, the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell chromosome aberration assay, and the ICR mouse bone marrow micronucleus test. The Ames test results indicated substantial bacteriostatic effects at doses of 500 and 5000 mg/dish, with no mutagenicity observed at doses of 0.5, 5, and 50 mg/dish. No significant effect on the aberration rate of CHO cell chromosomes was found at doses of 2.8, 5.6, and 11.2 mg/mL. In the ICR mouse micronucleus test, no micronucleus-inducing effect was observed at doses of 3.125, 6.25, and 12.5 mg/kg in each treatment group. In conclusion, under the conditions of this experiment, the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for developmental toxicity of levamlodipine benzenesulfonate in fertile SD rats, their embryos, and littermates was established to be 10 mg/kg/day. Levamlodipine benzenesulfonate did not exhibit significant genotoxicity.

Stability difference of each chromosome in Chinese Hamster Ovary cell line

Background The use of biopharmaceutical products that comprise therapeutic antibodies are increasing in the pharmaceutical industry. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines are widely used in the field of pharmaceutical industry to produce therapeutic antibodies. CHO DG44 cell line is a dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR)-deficient line, which is frequently used as a host cell while applying the gene amplification method. Since the chromosomes of CHO cells are unstable, variation in chromosome number occurs in these cells. This study focused on the dynamics of each chromosome during changes in the number of chromosomes. Clones from the CHO genomic bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library, a powerful tool that is expected to cover the entire CHO DG44 genome [1], were used to distinguish the location of individual chromosomes. In addition to the BAC clones previously known to correspond to the chromosomal locations of CHO DG44 and CHO K1 cell lines [2], sequences of 304 BAC clones that can identify the chromosomal locations in CHO DG44 cell line have been determined in this study. Therefore, our study leads to an understanding of the DNA sequence of individual chromosomes in the genome and the stability of each chromosome to establish high-producing CHO cell line.

Construction of a gene knockout CHO cell line using a simple gene targeting method

Background Therapeutic antibodies have become an important focus of the biopharmaceutical industry. The Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line is a major host for therapeutic antibody production. To construct productive CHO cell lines, two major transfection methods are commonly used, i.e., random integration and gene targeting. Random integration is a common method in which randomly integrated transgenes cause variation in antibody productivity because they are located in various chromosomal regions that affect transgene expression levels. Recently, gene-targeting methods, in which exogenous genes are inserted into a specific chromosomal region, have improved remarkably. Gene targeting is based on homologous recombination using sequences targeting a specific genomic region of the host cell. Homologous sequences located on both sides of the exogenous gene are used. We used the recently developed clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas9) system as a gene-targeting method. The CRISPR-Cas9 system induces double-strand breaks (DSBs) via guide RNA and Cas9, which increases the efficiency of homologous recombination [1]. Guide RNA hybridizes to a target integration site and induces Cas9 protein expression, leading to DSB. Finally, the Cas9 protein cuts genomic DNA. In this study, we constructed a simple genetargeting method in CHO cells using the CRISPR-Cas9 system in which CRISPR vectors induce DSBs and genetargeting vectors are inserted at the DSB site. In the conventional method, gene-targeting vectors should contain homology arms for effective recombination. In this study, we used the CRISPER system without homology arms for gene-targeted recombination. Materials and methods We constructed a CRISPR-Cas9 vector that expresses a guide RNA sequence targeting a region on chromosome O. Chromosome O was selected based on a previous classification of gene-amplified CHO cell chromosomes in order of decreasing size and assigned letters from A to T by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) [2]. The CRISPR targeting sequence was determined from the BAC clone Cg0031N14, which contained the chromosome O sequence. Gene targeting vectors (pcDNA-GFP-DHFR) with or without target site homology arms were constructed from BAC clone Cg0031N14. The percentage of exogenous gene integration into chromosome O was determined by a FISH analysis. Total RNA extracted from E14Tg2a (mouse ES cells) was kindly provided by Dr. Tohru Kimura, Kitasato University, Kanagawa, Japan.

Dose-Dependent Efficacy and Safety Toxicology of Hydroxypyridinonate Actinide Decorporation Agents in Rodents: Towards a Safe and Effective Human Dosing Regimen

Two hydroxypyridinone-containing actinide decorporation agents, 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO) and 5-LIO(Me-3,2-HOPO), are being developed for the treatment of internal actinide contamination by chelation therapy. Dose-response efficacy profiles in mice were established for the removal of intravenously injected (238)Pu and (241)Am after parenteral and oral treatment with these chelators. In both cases, presumed efficacious doses promoted substantially greater actinide elimination rates than the currently approved agent, diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid, considering two different interspecies scaling methods for the conversion of human doses to equivalent rodent dose levels. In addition, genotoxicity of both ligands was assessed using the Salmonella/ Escherichia coli /microsome plate incorporation test and the Chinese hamster ovary cell chromosome aberration assay, showing that neither ligand is genotoxic, in the presence and absence of metabolic activation. Finally, maximum tolerated dose studies were performed in rats for seven consecutive daily oral administrations with the chelators, confirming the safety of the presumed efficacious doses for 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO) and 5-LIO(Me-3,2-HOPO). The results of these studies add to the growing body of evidence that both decorporation agents have remarkable decorporation efficacy properties and promising safety toxicology profiles. These results are necessary components of the regulatory approval process and will help determine the optimal human dosing regimens for the treatment of internal radionuclide contamination.

Genotoxicity assessment of ethylenediamine dinitrate (EDDN) and diethylenetriamine trinitrate (DETN)

Ethylenediamine dinitrate (EDDN) and diethylenetriamine trinitrate (DETN) are relatively insensitive explosive compounds that are being explored as safe alternatives to other more sensitive compounds. When used in combination with other high explosives they are an improvement and may provide additional safety during storage and use. The genetic toxicity of these compounds was evaluated to predict the potential adverse human health effects from exposure by using a standard genetic toxicity test battery which included: a gene mutation test in bacteria (Ames), an in vitro Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell chromosome aberration test and an in vivo mouse micronucleus test. The results of the Ames test showed that EDDN increased the mean number of revertants per plate with strain TA100, without activation, at 5000μg/plate compared to the solvent control, which indicated a positive result. No positive results were observed with the other tester strains with or without activation in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA1535, TA1537, and Escherichia coli strain WP2 uvrA. DETN was negative for all Salmonella tester strains and E. coli up to 5000μg/plate both with and without metabolic activation. The CHO cell chromosome aberration assay was performed using EDDN and DETN at concentrations up to 5000μg/mL. The results indicate that these compounds did not induce structural chromosomal aberrations at all tested concentrations in CHO cells, with or without metabolic activation. EDDN and DETN, when tested in vivo in the CD-1 mouse at doses up to 2000mg/kg, did not induce any significant increase in the number of micronuclei in bone marrow erythrocytes. These studies demonstrate that EDDN is mutagenic in one strain of Salmonella (TA100) but was negative in other strains, for in vitro induction of chromosomal aberrations in CHO cells, and for micronuclei in the in vivo mouse micronucleus assay. DETN was not genotoxic in all in vitro and in vivo tests. These results show the in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity potential of these chemicals.

Atomic force microscope tracking observation of Chinese hamster ovary cell mitosis

CHO cells possess easily identifiable karyotypes, and CHO cell chromosomes are large and few in number, making these cells ideal for mutational and drug toxicity studies and suitable for investigations of animal chromosome structure. Here, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) in the tapping mode for detailed visualizations of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell chromosomes during various mitotic phases, including typical prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. Based on our detailed observations, we were able to divide metaphase and anaphase into sub-phases: metaphase I, II and III, and anaphase I and II. Furthermore, we used the AFM error-signal mode to visualize chromosomal ultrastructures and cytokinesis. While these visualizations were all successful, we found that the image quality was affected by cellular debris, contamination. Collectively, our results show that the AFM technique has great potential for the detailed study of chromosomes and chromosomal ultrastructures during all phases of the cell cycle, but that careful standards of sample preparation must be maintained.

AZT induces high frequency, rapid amplification of centromeric DNA.

The reverse transcriptase inhibitor 3'-azido-deoxythymidine (AZT) has previously been shown to be incorporated into specific regions near the telomeres and centromeres of Chinese hamster ovary cell chromosomes. Our investigation of the effects of AZT on chromosome stability has led to the discovery of a high frequency amplification of telomere-like centromeric DNA. The amplified structures, when analyzed cytogenetically, appear as tandem arrays of tightly clustered blocks of centromeric repeats containing telomeric sequences (TTAGGG)n. There were 5-13 blocks of amplified DNA per structure. These structures form rapidly within one or two cell cycles and can be observed with an incidence as high as 2%. Because the amplification was so rapid, we tested whether the amplification structures could be the result of aberrant overreplication by analyzing BrdU incorporation. Our results indicate that the amplified DNA does not undergo abnormal replication during its formation, but appears to form from existing centromeric regions. We propose a model that involves the excision of multiple centromeric DNA regions from other chromosomes and their relocalization to a new site.

Effect of cloned gene dosage on cell growth and hepatitis B surface antigen synthesis and secretion in recombinant CHO cells

The effect of cloned gene copy number on growth and product formation has been studied in sufficient detail using a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line producing recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg). Batch culture experiments were carried out in T flasks in order to characterize cell growth and HbsAg secretion in various clones carrying different numbers of HbsAg gene copies integrated into CHO cell chromosomes. Specific growth rates were found to decrease with increasing gene copy number. Secreted HbsAg concentration and specific HbsAg secretion rates were found to increase with increase in gene copy number. Gene copy numbers in each clone determined using Southern hybridizations were positively correlated with intracellular dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) content using a flow cytometric assay. The mRNA levels quantitated using Northern hybridization followed by autoradiography and densitometry also gave the same trends. The flow cytometry experiments show that while parental cells were quite homogeneous with respect to intracellular dhfr content, the amplified clones exhibit a great deal of heterogeneity in dhfr content. Pulse-chase experiments show that the efficiency of HbsAg secretion (defined here as the fraction of initially labeled HbsAg that is secreted into the extracellular medium at the end of a 23.5-h chase) decreases and also that the intracellular HbsAg degradation increases with increasing gene copy number.

Chromosome instability associated with human alphoid DNA transfected into the Chinese hamster genome.

Repetitive DNA sequences have been implicated in the mediation of DNA rearrangement in mammalian cells. We have tested this hypothesis by using a dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) expression vector into which candidate sequences were inserted. DHFR- Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were transfected with this vector, the amplification of which was then selected for by methotrexate (MTX) exposure. Cells transfected with the vector alone (and resistant to 0.02 or 1.0 microM MTX) or with a poly(dG-dT) insert (and resistant to 0.05 or 1.0 microM MTX) showed little change in chromosome aberrations or sister chromatid exchange frequencies. In contrast, transfection of DHFR- CHO cells with a vector containing either of two distinct 0.34-kilobase human alphoid DNA segments (and selection to 0.05 to 10.0 microM MTX) showed an approximately 50% increase in chromosome number and marked changes in chromosome structure, including one or two dicentric or ring forms per cell. The sister chromatid exchange frequency also increased, to more than double the frequency of that in cells transfected without insert or those containing poly(dG-dT). In situ hybridization of one 0.34-kilobase insert in some cells suggested clustering of homologous sequences in structurally abnormal recipient CHO cell chromosomes. The approach described provides an introduction to a unique means for a coordinate molecular and cytological study of dynamic changes in chromosome structure.

Chromosome instability associated with human alphoid DNA transfected into the Chinese hamster genome.

Repetitive DNA sequences have been implicated in the mediation of DNA rearrangement in mammalian cells. We have tested this hypothesis by using a dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) expression vector into which candidate sequences were inserted. DHFR- Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were transfected with this vector, the amplification of which was then selected for by methotrexate (MTX) exposure. Cells transfected with the vector alone (and resistant to 0.02 or 1.0 microM MTX) or with a poly(dG-dT) insert (and resistant to 0.05 or 1.0 microM MTX) showed little change in chromosome aberrations or sister chromatid exchange frequencies. In contrast, transfection of DHFR- CHO cells with a vector containing either of two distinct 0.34-kilobase human alphoid DNA segments (and selection to 0.05 to 10.0 microM MTX) showed an approximately 50% increase in chromosome number and marked changes in chromosome structure, including one or two dicentric or ring forms per cell. The sister chromatid exchange frequency also increased, to more than double the frequency of that in cells transfected without insert or those containing poly(dG-dT). In situ hybridization of one 0.34-kilobase insert in some cells suggested clustering of homologous sequences in structurally abnormal recipient CHO cell chromosomes. The approach described provides an introduction to a unique means for a coordinate molecular and cytological study of dynamic changes in chromosome structure.

Effect of magnesium on nickel-induced genotoxicity and cell transformation.

Raising the extracellular level of magnesium ions inhibited nickel-induced DNA strand breaks, DNA-protein crosslinks, sister chromatid exchanges, chromosomal aberrations and cell transformation. Carcinogenic nickel ions preferentially damaged centromeres and other heterochromatic regions of Chinese hamster ovary cell chromosomes. Elevation of extracellular magnesium levels prevented the effects of nickel on heterochromatin and inhibited cell transformation, but did not substantially reduce the DNA damage induced by nickel in euchromatic regions. This study suggests that heterochromatic DNA damage may be important to the nickel-induced neoplastic transformation process.