Lentivirus Production In Serum-Free, Chemically Defined Conditions With HEK- 293T Cells

Viral vector-based gene therapies are promising candidates in the treatment of rare, genetic diseases due to the natural ability of viruses to transfer genetic content into target cells. Lentivirus (LV) is a propitious mechanism of genetic delivery due to the low immunogenicity of the virus, the ability to integrate into the genome, and the relative safety in the generation and handling of lentivirus. However, traditional production methods have relied on the use of fetal bovine serum in lentiviral production with adherent cells, raising the requirement for animal- and blood-free systems in order to overcome lot-to-lot inconsistencies, potential for adventitious agent contamination, and possible constraints in the serum supply chain.1 Therefore, we have developed a method for lentivirus production with adherent HEK-293T using OptiPEAK® HEK293t, a chemically defined, serum- and blood-free media.