title: High yield culture of human fibroblasts on microcarriers: a first step in production of fibroblast-derived interferon (human beta interferon).
abstract: Production of large quantities of diploid human fibroblasts in small culture volumes can be achieved using microcarrier culture techniques. Modification of the microcarrier culture procedure to include a virtually static attachment period and a reduced culture volume during the first 6 hr of culture was shown to double the attachment efficiency of the cells, improve the culture growth rate and increase final cell yields. Using the modified culture procedure yields greater than 2 x 10(6) cells/ml could be regularly obtained when 7--8 viable cells/microcarrier were used to inoculate a culture containing 3 mg of Cytodex 1 microcarriers/ml. A protocol for the mass production of human beta interferon from microcarrier cultures is described. After priming the culture with beta interferon the superinduction step involves use of a poly (I) . poly(C)/DEAE-Dextran complex. Modifications to the microcarrier culture procedure and to the interferon production sequence enable the production of 3 x 10(8) IU of interferon from a 5 liter microcarrier culture of human fibroblasts. This quantity of interferon corresponds to a yield of approximately 30 IU/10(3) cells or 2 x 10(4) IU/mg of microcarrier.
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D007372:Interferons