Increased production of human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (hGM -CSF) by the addition of stabilizing polymer in plant suspension cultures

The effect of stabilizing polymer on hGM-CSF production was investigated in suspension cell cultures of transgenic tobacco. Secreted human GM -CSF from cell suspension cultures was detected in the medium at a maximum concentration of 180 ${\mu}g/L$ by ELISA. However, the secreted hGM -CSF was unstable in the medium, and rapidly degraded after day 5. In order to stabilize the secreted hGM-CSF, three stabilizing polymers were tested, polyethylene glycol, polyvinylpyrrolidone and gelatin. Gelatin was the most effective in stabilizing the secreted GM-CSF. Following the addition of 5% (w/v) gelatin, the maximum GM -CSF concentration reached 783 ${\mu}g/L$, a 4.6-fold increase over control.