Cytokines and Extracellular Matrix

Key Personnel

Jeffrey A. Hubbell (PI)
University of Chicago

• Michael White
  University of Chicago

Project Description

Morphogenetic signals from the cell’s microenvironment play important roles in stem and progenitor cell differentiation and in multicellular morphogenesis, being driven by extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and cytokines. We focus on how signaling from cytokines is modulated by the presence of and interactions with ECM proteins and how this modulates morphogenesis. This interaction leads to synergistic signaling between adhesion receptors and cytokine receptors. We develop molecular engineering approaches to create recombinant cytokine variants that bind the ECM with unusually high affinity, to enhance their translational potential. Recombinant ECM proteins can be built into biomaterials, or they can be assembled into a gel network to be used as a biomaterial matrix themselves. Our goal is to use these matrix and cytokine engineering approaches to support the multicellular morphogenesis that occurs between nephron progenitor cells, the developing microvasculature, and other stromal cells.