Abstract :
The production of recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (hG-CSF) for
therapeutic purposes relies on its expression in selected clones of transfected mammalian
cells. Alternatively, this protein can be produced by targeted secretion in the milk of transgenic
goats. Thus, the aim of this study was to produce founder transgenic goats expressing
hG-CSF and to propagate a transgenic production herd. After DNA microinjection of in vivoproduced
pronuclear embryos was performed, two founders were obtained (one male and
one female, named 10 M and 12 F, respectively). The mean level of hG-CSF secreted in the
milk from the 12 F goat, which was measured during a period of induced lactation, was
620.92
±
179.93 g/ml. In addition, the recombinant protein presented in vitro biological
activity on differentiation of human umbilical stem cells to neutrophil granulocyte series.
A total of nine kids (six from 10 M and three from 12 F) that carried the hG-CSF transgene
were generated by outbreeding of the founders. In summary, we produced two transgenic
goats with a stably integrated hG-CSF gene that were capable of secreting recombinant hGCSF
from the lactating mammary gland without causing any harm to the animals’ health.
Additionally, the founders proved to be fertile and capable of transmitting the hG-CSF gene
to first generation progeny of each line. Additional investigations of the phenotypic and
genotypic characteristics of the 10 M and 12 F lines are warranted.
