Vectors and methods for the efficient generation of integration/transgene-free induced pluripotent stem cells from peripheral blood cells

Abstract

A vector for generating induced pluripotent stem cells from human target cells comprising a) a vector backbone, b) exactly two, three or four transcription and reprogramming factor genes, each gene separated by a 2a self-cleavage peptide sequence, c) a spleen focus-forming virus promoter, and d) a post-transcriptional regulatory element Wpre, with or without an anti-apoptotic factor gene. A method for generating integration-free induced pluripotent stem cells, the method comprising: a) providing target cells, b) providing one or more than one vector according to the present invention, c) transducing or transfecting the target cells with the one or more than one vector, and d) culturing the transduced or transfected cells in a cell culture, thereby generating integration-free induced pluripotent stem cells.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.