5 Applications of Recombinant Proteins: Exciting Discoveries Enabled by Cytokines, Growth Factors, and More

In this blog, we’ll explore five innovative applications of recombinant proteins that are reshaping modern biotechnology research.

What are recombinant proteins?

Recombinant proteins are bioengineered molecules produced through genetic recombination techniques. Researchers insert a gene of interest into a host cell like a bacteria, yeast, or mammalian cell; the host then expresses the target recombinant proteins.

Cytokines — such as interleukins and interferons — make up a category of recombinant proteins that mediate immune signaling, while growth factors — like EGF and FGF —regulate cell proliferation and differentiation. Both are essential tools in cell culture, immunology, and stem cell research.

Recombinant proteins are widely used to study cellular behavior, optimize experimental models, and develop assays and cell therapies.  Their precise bioactivity and reliability also make them indispensable for advancing biomedical research and drug development.

Types of recombinant proteins

• Cytokines – Small signaling proteins that regulate immune responses, inflammation, and cell communication. Examples include interleukins (ILs), interferons (IFNs), and tumor necrosis factors (TNFs).
• Chemokines – A subclass of cytokines that direct cell migration, particularly in immune surveillance and inflammation. Key examples include CCL and CXCL family proteins.
• Growth Factors – Proteins that stimulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Common examples include epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
• Neurotrophins – Specialized growth factors that support neuron survival, development, and function. Examples include nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
• Proteases & Other Enzymes – Catalytic proteins that break down other proteins (proteases) or drive biochemical reactions in cells. Examples include matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) for extracellular remodeling and Caspases for apoptosis regulation.
• Ligands & Receptors – Molecules that interact to trigger cellular signaling pathways. Recombinant ligands (e.g., Wnt, Notch ligands) and receptors (e.g., TNF receptors, cytokine receptors) help researchers study signaling networks and drug interactions.

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Research applications of recombinant proteins

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Recombinant proteins like cytokines and growth factors are extremely versatile in advancing our understanding of biology and supporting innovations across multiple scientific disciplines.

• 3D Cell and Organoid Models – Researchers rely on recombinant growth factors and other signaling proteins to create more realistic, three-dimensional tissue models called organoids. These lab-grown structures help mimic complex organ systems—like the gut, liver, or brain—for drug screening and disease modeling.
• Cancer Research – Scientists use recombinant cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors to study tumor growth and immune cell interactions. By tweaking these proteins, researchers can better understand tumor microenvironment dynamics and screen potential anti-cancer therapies.
• Cardiovascular Research – Growth factors and other signaling proteins are used to examine blood vessel formation, heart tissue repair, and overall cardiovascular health. They also support the development of novel treatments for heart disease and related conditions.
• Environmental and Agricultural Research – Recombinant enzymes can be used to study processes in agriculture and environmental sciences, such as biodegradation and plant hormone signaling, which contribute to crop improvement and sustainable practices.
• Neurobiology Research – Neurotrophins and other recombinant proteins are key to studying neuron survival, synaptic function, and repair. They allow scientists to investigate neurodegenerative conditions (e.g., Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s) and test potential therapies.
• Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine – Recombinant growth factors and cytokines are pivotal in directing stem cell fate—helping cells differentiate into specific tissues. This makes them indispensable for developing cell therapies and tissue engineering approaches.
• Vaccine Research – Recombinant antigens and immune signaling molecules play a critical role in designing and testing new vaccines. By fine-tuning these components, researchers can develop targeted immunization strategies against emerging and persistent diseases.

5 exciting discoveries made possible by cytokines, growth factors, and other recombinant proteins

Recombinant proteins have major research impact today. Below are just a handful of discoveries made possible by this technology.

1. Stem cells can be cultured in “zero gravity” during spaceflight.

When the first stem cell samples were sent to space in 2017, the scientific community was thrilled to learn that some stem cell types multiply faster in “zero-gravity” (microgravity) conditions than on Earth. This discovery galvanized efforts to find ways to manufacture regenerative stem cell therapies in space. But handling liquid culture samples in microgravity has presented a challenge for related research.

In 2024, scientists reported in NPJ Microgravity that surface tension can be harnessed to culture induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) aboard the International Space Station using readily available lab hardware.

By using simple surface tension in 96-well plates to optimize fluid flow rather than engineering complex pumps, the team maintained cell viability and pluripotency for days in low Earth orbit. Transfection of 2D and 3D-cultured cells was also successful. Recombinant growth factors were a vital component in the culture media.

The ability to conduct these experiments using off-the-shelf hardware reduces cost and complexity, offering a new blueprint for researchers exploring the effects of microgravity on cellular biology. Beyond furthering our understanding of stem cell behavior in extreme environments, this work holds promise for future tissue engineering, disease modeling, and even personalized therapeutics in space.

2. Humans and animals prefer real sugar over artificial sweeteners because of cues from the gut.

Humans and other animals intuitively prefer real sugar to artificial, non-caloric sweeteners. But how?

A 2022 report in Nature Neuroscience revealed that our strong preference for sugar over artificial sweeteners relies on specialized gut sensor cells called neuropods that can tell the difference.

Working with mice, the researchers pinpointed how neuropods detect sugar in the small intestine and, through the vagus nerve, transmit glutamate signals to reward centers in the brain. A different neurotransmitter response is triggered by artificial sweeteners.

This finding underscores the profound influence of gut–brain communication on our dietary choices and highlights how taste perception extends far beyond the tongue. Our improved understanding of neuropods opens new avenues for developing interventions to curb sugar cravings and related metabolic disorders. 

Recombinant proteins were essential in enabling the culture of intestinal organoids – 3D in vitro cell models that more closely mimic the natural gut environment than 2D models. Using an organoid model to complement in vivo discovery with mice, the research team was able to track and manipulate human gut receptors with precision.

3. 3D cell models of bat lungs may help scientists better understand bat-derived infectious diseases like SARS-CoV-2 and Ebola virus.

Bats are known reservoirs for important zoonotic diseases like SARS-CoV-2, Ebola, and Nipah. Studying the real-life biological mechanisms of these viruses, however, has been limited by the oversimplified nature of two-dimensional culture models using bat-derived cell lines.

Researchers in Egypt and Japan have introduced a pioneering bat lung organoid model that can more accurately emulate organ structure, tissue function, and disease responses in viral research – offering an invaluable window into how bat-borne pathogens truly interact with their hosts.

By culturing bat lung cells in 3D organoids that closely mirror in vivo tissue architecture, the researchers are helping to to create a model that captures key hallmarks of bat respiratory biology, including unique antiviral defenses. These organoids hold promise for investigating viral replication dynamics, comparing pathogenicity of emerging viruses, and identifying potential therapeutic targets.

The team used recombinant growth factors to guide the differentiation and maintenance of these delicate organoids.

4. Scientists are reprogramming skin cells to produce artificial gametes in a global quest to conserve critically endangered species.

Several research groups in the past decade have advanced efforts to repopulate, diversify, or de-extinct at-risk species by transforming skin cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), with the end goal of producing artificial gametes for in vitro fertilization.

In China, researchers successfully generated iPSCs from the giant panda, validating their pluripotency and providing a potent resource for breeding programs aimed at preserving the genetic diversity of this iconic species.

In Europe, a separate investigation achieved pluripotency in stem cells derived from the functionally extinct northern white rhinoceros. Using samples from a female rhino named Nabire who died in 2015, researchers reprogrammed fibroblast cells through electroporation into naive-like iPSCs. In culture, these iPSCs resemble the inner cell mass of a six-to-seven-day-old embryo and are capable of differentiating into any cell type in the body – including functional sperm or egg cells.

» Related story: Can stem cells rewind extinction?

Culture media composition – and namely the addition of recombinant proteins and growth factors – is a keystone element of achieving and maintaining pluripotency, as well as for differentiating iPSCs into specific cell types. With the help of off-the-shelf recombinant proteins, researchers continue to explore the potential of iPSC technology to expand genetic diversity and circumvent reproductive barriers.

5. Scientists have achieved a 3D cell culture model of skin that is capable of growing fat, nerves, and hair.

In 2020, researchers succeeded in creating a complex human skin model entirely from pluripotent stem cells, offering new avenues for regenerative medicine research.

By closely mimicking embryonic skin development in a three-dimensional culture, the researchers generated multi-layered skin organoids complete with functional hair follicles. Besides its significance for basic skin biology, this model has introduced new possibilities for research in hair-loss disorders, wound healing, skin grafting and more.

Central to this method is the careful orchestration of signaling pathways using defined media and growth factors, often delivered as recombinant proteins. By precisely timing and controlling factors such as Wnt and BMP signaling, the authors guided the stem cells through the stages of skin and follicle development seen in normal embryonic processes.

What’s next for science enabled by recombinant proteins?

Recombinant proteins have enabled major advances in basic and applied research, yet their potential is far from fully realized.  

Advances in biotechnology are enabling the production of highly specific recombinant proteins that can finely tune the microenvironment of cell cultures. This precision allows for more effective differentiation and expansion of specialized cells like neural, blood, immune, cardiac, and other lineages.

As our understanding of cellular signaling also deepens, the integration of these tailored proteins into culture media will not only improve cell yield and functionality but also enable more consistent and scalable manufacturing processes for clinical and research settings.  The examples covered in this blog are just the beginning. 

From dissecting fundamental mechanisms of disease to developing novel therapeutics, recombinant proteins remain at the heart of discovery in life science.

More resources and applications of recombinant proteins

• Overview: Recombinant Proteins
• Overview: Stem Cell Research
• Video: Bob Goldman, cytokine expression expert and founder of PeproTech, shares his 35+ year journey in recombinant protein development
• Customer story: Can stem cells rewind extinction? Dr. Jeanne Loring and the San Diego Zoo hope to revive the northern white rhinoceros and create a blueprint for stem cell-based conservation

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