Hybridoma growth and antibody secretion in serum-supplemented and low protein serum-free media.

Hybridoma cell growth and monoclonal antibody secretion were studied with three murine hybridomas, SS1.1, NS6.3 and 455, propagated in four low protein serum-free media and various serum-supplemented media. Cell metabolism, as indicated by cell growth and glucose uptake, and antibody production rates were measured. The analysis focused on the secretion of monoclonal antibodies as a function of the medium makeup. Although cell densities achieved were generally higher for serum-supplemented media, glucose uptake rates did not vary significantly, and antibody secretion rates measured at peak cell density were higher for serum-free media with all three hybridomas. Decreasing the serum concentration had opposite effects for the IgM and IgG secretors, NS6.3 and SS1.1; secretion rates measured at peak cell density were higher for the former and lower for the latter.