Luis Congote, PhD

Research Focus

The formation of blood cells under normal or pathological conditions is regulated by a large variety of factors. They interact among them in a complex way, by mutually promoting or inhibiting the action of the others. Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) play multiple functions in the hematopoietic system, affecting cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and survival. They often act in synergism with cytokines such as erythropoietin and interleukin 3. We have found that recombinant IGF-cytokine chimeras can be easily produced using insect cell culture technology. We are investigating the mechanism of action and potential therapeutic use of some of these chimeras, in particular the fusion proteins of IGFs with interleukin 3, stromal cell derived factor 1 and serpin A1 (antitrypsin). Experiments with the IGF-interleukin 3 chimera led us to the identification of endothelial cells as source of growth factors for red cell formation, such as the C-terminal peptide of thrombospondin 4. Studies with IGF-serpin A1 chimeras guided the way to the discovery of the wound healing and anti-HIV-1 activity of serpin C-terminal peptides. We are presently studying similar factors produced by endothelial cells and other serpin C-terminal peptides.

Keywords

Hematopoiesis, erythropoiesis, cytokines, regulatory peptides, endocrinology, protein purification, recombinant proteins, protein expression, HIV, wound-healing