Characterization of recombinant human granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor produced in mouse cells

Mouse C127I cells were transformed with a chimeric plasmid consisting of bovine papillomavirus DNA and human granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) cDNA placed under the control of the SV40 early promoter. The transformed cells secreted constitutively a high level of human G-CSF, 10-20 micrograms/ml in a low-serum medium. The secreted G-CSF has been purified to homogeneity by a two-step procedure including gel filtration and hydrophobic column chromatography. The purified recombinant G-CSF runs as a single band with an apparent Mr of 19,000 on a polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. This value corresponds to that of the native human G-CSF purified from the medium conditioned by human carcinoma CHU-2 cells. The recombinant human G-CSF was as active as native G-CSF in vitro in supporting proliferation of mouse NFS-60 cells and stimulating colony formation from human as well as mouse bone marrow cells. When the recombinant human G-CSF was subcutaneously administrated into mice, a remarkable stimulation of granulopoiesis and splenomegaly was observed.