Oxygen in human lymphoblastoid cell line cultures and effect of polymers in agitated and aerated cultures

Oxygen demand in submerged animal cell cultures is an important factor that must be controlled. Due to the increased interest in human lymphoblastoid cell lines and hybridomas for the production of various biologicals (such as immunoglobulins, antibodies, interferons and lymphokines) attention should be given to controlling and understanding better the effect of partial oxygen pressure (pO2) in mammalian cell culturing systems. Two points concerning oxygen requirement are reported in this paper: Cell growth and immunoglobulin production were found to be pO2-dependent. The highest cell yield was attained at the highest atmospheric pO2 (166 mmHg). On the other hand, the highest immunoglobulin yield was achieved at the lowest pO2 (33 mmHg). Therefore, the maintenance of different optimal pO2 is desirable in the cultivation of cells for either mass cell production or immunoglobulins. Synthetic polymers such as carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl starch and pluronic polyols are added to the media for the propagation of cells in submerged culture. These polymers are not metabolized but protect cells from mechanical damage due to agitation and aeration.