Large-scale transfection of mammalian cells

Methods Mol Biol. 2012:801:13-26. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-352-3_2.

Abstract

The large-scale transfection of mammalian cells allows moderate (milligram to gram) amounts of recombinant proteins (r-proteins) to be obtained for fundamental or clinical research. In this article, we describe a one-liter transfection using polyethyleneimine (PEI) for DNA delivery into human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells cultivated in serum-free suspension to produce a recombinant human monoclonal antibody that yields up to about 1 g/L in a 10-day process. The method is based on a DNA delivery step performed at high cell density (20×10(6) cells/mL) by direct addition of DNA and PEI to the culture. Subsequently, the cells are diluted 20-fold for the 10-day production phase in the presence of valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor. The methods for plasmid purification, antibody quantification by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and affinity purification with protein A are also described.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / isolation & purification
  • Antibodies / metabolism
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cell Proliferation
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Plasmids / isolation & purification
  • Polyethyleneimine / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Staphylococcal Protein A / biosynthesis
  • Staphylococcal Protein A / isolation & purification
  • Transfection / methods*

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Staphylococcal Protein A
  • Polyethyleneimine
  • DNA