The granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a cytokine that belongs to a group of glycoprotein that regulates the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells, more specifically granulocytes and macrophages. The human GM-CSF is a 14. 4 kDa protein consisting of 127 amino acid polypeptide chain and shares 52% of similarities with murine protein. The human protein has 4 cysteine residues that forms two disulphide bonds; only the Cysteine 54 and 96 are required for the biologic activity of it. This biopharmaceutical has been widely used in neutropenic patients who receive high-dose chemotherapy or were transplanted. Therefore, GM-CSF is used to restore hematopoietic dysfunctions, to stimulate the hyper-production of functionally primed effectors cells and to augment host defense against infection and malignant diseases. Its use is associated with significant decreases in chemotherapy-associated infections, antibiotic use, length of hospital day and mortality. The international patent of the biopharmaceutical Molgramostim (generic name) expired in 2006, and thus became an interesting product to pharmaceutical industries, including those settled in Brazil. Presently, Molgramostim is sold in Brazil as an imported biopharmaceutical, which, in turn becomes very costly to the Brazilian government. Therefore, the aim of this work is to develop a methodology for subsequent production of a national Molgramostim. In this work the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor gene was assembled by PCR. It was cloned into pET30a(+) expression vector and the best condition for expression of the protein was in the BL21(DE3) strain from Escherichia coli. To the isolation of inclusion bodies an efficient protocol was developed using multi step washing procedure and purification method of the recombinant protein from inclusion bodies using only a cationic and then an anionic exchange column. The immunoassay and N-terminal sequencing confirmed the identity of rhGM-CSF. The result of the biological activity assay, in vitro, showed that the rhGM-CSF produced has an equivalent biological potential to the standard reference. The protein rhGM-CSF was produced through simple, cost effective and economically feasible process and is extremely important to the industrial procedure and healthcare community.
展开▼
