BHRF-1 as a Tool for Genetic Inhibition of Apoptotis in Hybridoma Cell Cultures

Abstract

Cell death is a critical factor in hybridoma cell cultures. At high cell densities, the limitation of nutrients, mitogens and oxygen leads to elevated death rates and to the accumulation of cell debris affecting the quality of the product and downstream processing, therefore compromising the productivity and cost-effectiveness of the bioprocess. In the present work, we engineered a hybridoma cell line to express either the antiapoptosis gene Bcl-2 or its viral homologue BHRF-1 (isolated from Epstein Barr virus) and analyse their effects on the improvement of cell viability and productivity under different cell culture strategies as batch, continuous and perfusion.