Comparative Study of Anti-Apoptotic Genes, Bcl-2 and P35 for the Suppression of Apoptosis Induced in Suspension Culture of Transformed Trichoplusia ni BTI Tn 5B1-4 Cells

To delay the onset of apoptosis in the culture, transformed Tn 5B1-4 cells harboring anti-apoptotic genes, bcl-2 and baculovirus p35, have been established and analyzed for their anti-apoptotic ability in suspension culture using spinner flasks. In the suspension culture at agitation speeds of 100 rpm and 200 rpm, the cell growth of cell clone expressing Bcl-2 protein was much higher than other two clones and the maximum cell density of the clone was 6.0 ${\times}$ 10$^{6}$ cells/ml and 6.2 ${\times}$ 10$^{6}$ cells/ml at day three of the incubation. On the other hand, the cell growth of cell clone expressing baculovirus protein P35 was much higher than other two clones in suspension culture at agitation speed of 300 rpm and the maximum cell density of the clone was 6.1 ${\times}$ 10$^{6}$ cells/ml at day three of the incubation. Based on the pattern of genomic DNA laddering and the microscopic observation of apoptotic bodies, the more apoptotic bodies are induced in Tn 5B1-4 control cell clone at higher agitation speed. This result shows that the shear stress can be a main factor in inducing apoptosis in spinner flask culture. At low agitation speed, cell clone expressing Bcl-2 was more effective in delaying the onset of apoptosis than the cell clone expressing P35. On the other hand, at high agitation speed, cell clones expressing baculovirus P35 was more effective in delaying the onset of apoptosis than the cell clone expressing Bcl-2. Therefore, anti-apoptotic genes, bcl-2 and baculovirus p35, can playa distinct role depending on agitation speed in the suspension culture.