RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Insulin-like growth factor-1 fused with thrombopoietin mimetic peptide effectively increase platelets count in vivo JF Saudi Medical Journal JO Saudi Med J FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City SP 254 OP 259 VO 32 IS 3 A1 Zhang, Hai-Tao A1 Li, Zheng-Wu A1 Guo, Chang-Hong A1 Zhang, Xiu-Qin A1 Chen, Yu-Jun A1 Li, Hui-Cheng YR 2011 UL http://smj.org.sa/content/32/3/254.abstract AB OBJECTIVE: To design the expression of fusion proteins containing one or 2 thrombopoietin mimetic peptide (TMP).METHODS: This study was conducted at Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Research and Development Center, Harbin, China from June 2009 to January 2010. We designed the protein that was fused to the C-terminus of insulin-like growth factors (IGF-1) by a flexible peptide linker by Dami cell proliferation assay, colony-forming assay, and analysis of platelet in mice to prove our hypothesis. The total number of mice used was 48 in all 4 groups.RESULTS: The fusion proteins were produced in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) at up to 26% of the total cell proteins. Subsequent biological activity assays showed that the fusion proteins exhibited higher potency than recombinant human thrombopoietin (TPO). Our results showed that the fusion proteins IGF-1-TMP exhibited higher biological activities than TMP in Dami cell proliferation, human cord blood cell colony-forming assays, and in experiments on acute myeloid radiation sickness mice, which can effectively increase the number of platelets.CONCLUSION: Experiments in mice and biology activity assay, which can effectively increase the number of platelets, indicated that it has a potential role in pharmaceutical applications for the treatment of thrombocytopenia.