Impact of lactate metabolism on antibody production in Chinese hamster ovary cells during fed-batch culture

This study investigates the impact of lactate metabolism on antibody production in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells during fed-batch culture. The goal is to analyze product yield and quality under different lactate metabolism patterns. A 14-day fed-batch culture was conducted in 50 mL shake tubes with five experimental groups having total feeding ratios of 20%, 18%, 15%, 13%, and 10%. By investigating the effects of different feeding ratios on cellular metabolism, CHO cell growth, antibody expression, and antibody quality across the groups. The results indicate that the feeding ratio significantly influences lactate metabolism in CHO cells, with the 15% feeding ratio group showing higher antibody titer and specific productivity compared to the 20% control group and other groups, and maintained lower lactate levels in the later stages of culture. Higher feeding ratios boosted peak cell density but led to lactate accumulation in the later stages, resulting in decreased cell growth. Both excessively high and low total feeding ratios were associated with increased levels of fragmented complementarity-determining regions, as well as acidic and basic peaks, indicating a compromise in antibody quality. Appropriate feeding ratio helps maintain lactate levels, thereby supporting cell growth, enhancing antibody production, and ensuring product quality.