Production of functional proteins: balance of shear stress and gravity

US6730498B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Thomas J. Goodwin · Friendswood, US
• Timothy Grant Hammond · New Orleans, US
• James Howard Kaysen · New Orleans, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 7, 1998
• Grant date: May 4, 2004
• Expiry date: Apr 7, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C12N2510/02
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for production of functional proteins including hormones by renal cells in a three dimensional co-culture process responsive to shear stress using a rotating wall vessel. Natural mixture of renal cells expresses the enzyme 1-a-hydroxylase which can be used to generate the active form of vitamin D: 1,25-diOH vitamin D3. The fibroblast cultures and co-culture of renal cortical cells express the gene for erythropoietin and secrete erythropoietin into the culture supernatant. Other shear stress response genes are also modulated by shear stress, such as toxin receptors megalin and cubulin (gp280). Also provided is a method of treating in-need individual with the functional proteins produced in a three dimensional co-culture process responsive to shear stress using a rotating wall vessel.