Development and Characterization of Hyperglycosylated Recombinant Human Erythropoietin (HGEPO)

Erythropoietin (EPO), a glycoprotein hormone produced from primarily cells of the peritubular capillary endothelium of the kidney, is responsible for the regulation of red blood cell production. We have been investigating the roles of glycosylation site added in the biosynthesis and function of recombinant protein. We constructed three EPO mutants ($\Delta$69, $\Delta$105 and $\Delta$69,105), containing an additional oligosaccharide chains. EPOWT and EPO$\Delta$69 were effectively expressed in transient and stably transfected CHO-K1 cell lines. But, it wasn't detected any protein in the culture medium of EPO$\Delta$105 and EPO$\Delta$69,105 mutants. The growth and differentiation of EPO-dependent human leukemic cell line (F36E) were used to measure the cytokine dependency and in vitro bioactivity of rec-hEPO. MTT assay values were increased by survival of F36E cells at 24h. To analysis biological activity in vivo, two groups of ICR-mice (7 weeks old) were injected subcutaneously with 10 IU per mice of rec-hEPO molecules on days 0 and 2. Red blood cell and hematocrit values were measured on 6 days after the first injection. The hematocrit values were remarkably increased in all treatment groups. The pharmacokinetic analysis was also affected in the mice injected with rec-hEPO molecules 2.5 IU by tail intravenous. Protein samples were detected by Western blotting. An EPO$\Delta$69 protein migrated as a broad band with an average apparent molecular and detected slightly high band. Enzymatic N-deglycosylation resulted in narrow band and was the same molecular size. The biological activity of EPO$\Delta$69 was enhanced to compare with wt-hEPO. The half-life was longer than wt-hEPO. The results suggest that hyperglycosyalted recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO$\Delta$69) may have important biological and therapeutic good points.