Biotechnology of Human Disorders

Electronic Journal of Biotechnology ISSN: 0717-3458 Vol. 10 No. 2, Issue of January 15, 2007
© 2007 by Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso -- Chile Received June 13, 2006 / Accepted October 26, 2006
DOI: 10.2225/vol10-issue2-fulltext-5
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor: effect of glycosylation on pharmacokinetic parameters

Guillermo Marini
Laboratorio de Cultivos Celulares
Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas
Universidad Nacional del Litoral
Ciudad Universitaria
Paraje “El Pozo”, S3000ZAA
Santa Fe, Argentina
Tel/Fax: 54 0 342 4552928
E-mail: guillemarini@yahoo.com.ar 

Guillermina Forno
Laboratorio de Cultivos Celulares
Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas
Universidad Nacional del Litoral
Ciudad Universitaria
Paraje “El Pozo”, S3000ZAA
Santa Fe, Argentina
Tel/Fax: 54 0 342 4552928
E-mail: gforno@fbcb.unl.edu.ar

Ricardo Kratje
Laboratorio de Cultivos Celulares
Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas
Universidad Nacional del Litoral
Ciudad Universitaria
Paraje “El Pozo”, S3000ZAA
Santa Fe, Argentina
Tel/Fax: 54 0 342 4552928
E-mail: rkratje@fbcb.unl.edu.ar

Marina Etcheverrigaray*
Laboratorio de Cultivos Celulares
Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas
Universidad Nacional del Litoral
Ciudad Universitaria
Paraje “El Pozo”, S3000ZAA
Santa Fe, Argentina
Tel/Fax: 54 342 456 4397
E-mail: marina@fbcb.unl.edu.ar

*Corresponding author

Keywords: glycosylation, pharmacokinetic parameters, rhGM-CSF.

Abbreviations:

BSA: bovine serum albumin
CHO: Chinese hamster ovary
CL: total plasma clearance
Cmax: maximum plasma concentration
ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
FCS: fetal calf serum
ip: intraperitoneal
iv: intravenous
PBS: phosphate-buffered saline
rhGM-CSF: recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor
t1/2 α: distribution half-life
t1/2 β: terminal half-life
TBS: Tris-buffered saline
tmax: time to reach the maximum plasma concentration

Abstract
Full Text

The pharmacokinetic behaviour of the non-glycosylated, bacterially-derived recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) and the glycosylated mammalian product was studied after intra and extra vascular administration of a single dose in rodents. Each route of administration gave a different rhGM-CSF concentration-time profile. After extra vascular administration of equivalent doses, a higher peak concentration and faster elimination were observed in the group treated with the E. coli-derived cytokine. The faster elimination resulted in a return to pre-treatment plasma levels after 12 hrs, versus 48 hrs following the administration of glycosylated rhGM-CSF. After intravascular administration, clearance of rhGM-CSF was significantly decreased by the presence of carbohydrates. Non-significant differences in the terminal phase of the biphasic kinetics were found, but the distribution phase was significantly longer for the glycosylated form.

Supported by UNESCO / MIRCEN network