Dr. Kevin Leco, PhD

Children’s Health Research Institute
Scientist, Molecular Genetics Program

Lawson Health Research Institute
Scientist, Children's Health Research Institute

University of Western Ontario
Associate Professor, Department of Physiology & Pharmacology

Contact Information
Tel: (519) 661-3008
Fax: (519) 661-3827
E-mail: Kevin.Leco@schulich.uwo.ca
Web: http://www.physpharm.med.uwo.ca/people/personnel.html

Brief Biography

Dr. Leco received his PhD in Pharmacology and Therapeutics from the University of Calgary in 1994. He continued his research training in Calgary for an additional two years until he accepted a Post Doctoral Fellowship in Toronto under the supervision of Dr. R. Khokha, at the Ontario Cancer Institute. Dr. Leco was appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology & Pharmacology at The University of Western Ontario in 1999.

Research Interests

• Cellular and molecular physiology
• Developmental biology
• Respiratory physiology

Research Activities

Dr. Leco’s laboratory focuses on extracellular matrix metabolism during development and in disease states. Specifically, research is dedicated to understanding the role of a class of extracellular matrix degradative enzymes termed matrix metalloproteinases and their natural inhibitors, the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases in embryo implantation into the mother's womb, the embryonic development of internal organs such as heart and lung and adult pathological processes such as emphysema and heart disease. His research will provide fundamental answers on how extracellular matrix remodelling impacts mammalian development and the progression of two debilitating diseases.

Publications

1. Martin, EL,  McCaig, LA, Moyer, BZ, Pape, MC, Leco, KJ, Lewis, JF, and Veldhuizen RAW (2005). Differential response of TIMP-3 null mice to the lung insults of sepsis, mechanical ventilation and hyperoxia. Am J Physiol 289(2): L244-251.
2. Fedak, PWM, Khokha, R, Weisel, RD, Smookler, D, Ohno, N, Watson, KH, Verma, S, Leco, KJ, Mickle, DAG, Li, RK (2004). TIMP-3 Deficiency Induces Cardiac Failure. Circulation 110(16): 2401 2409.
3. Martin, EL, Moyer, BZ, Pape, MC, Starcher, B, *Leco, KJ and *Veldhuizen, RA (2003). Negative impact of TIMP-3 null mutation on lung structure and function in response to sepsis. Am J Physiology 285: L1222-L1232. *Co-senior authors provided equal contribution to this study.
   
4. Gill, SE, Pape, MC, Khokha, R, Watson, AJ and Leco, KJ (2003). A Null Mutation for Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases-3 (Timp-3) Impairs Murine Bronchiole Branching Morphogenesis. Dev Biol 261: 313-323.
   
5. Jung, J-C, Leco, KJ, Edwards, DR and Fini, ME (2002). Role of matrix metalloproteinases in thyroid hormone-induced tadpole tail resorption. Developmental Dynamics 223: 402-413.
   
6. Young, DA, Phillips, BW, Lundy, C, Nuttall, RM, ,Hogan, A, Schultz, GA, Leco, KJ, Clark, IM and Edwards, DR (2002). Identification of an initiator-like element essential for the expression of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-4 (Timp-4) gene. Biochem Journal 364(1): 89-99.
   
7. Leco, KJ, Waterhouse, P, Sanchez, OH, Gowing, KLM, Poole, AR, Wakeham, A, Mak, T and Khokha, R (2001). Spontaneous air space enlargement in the lungs of mice lacking tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP-3). J Clin Invest 108(6): 817-829. See also: commentary; J Clin Invest 108(6): 799-800 and the cover of J Clin Invest 108(6).
   
8. Fata, JE, Leco, KJ, Youra, EB, Yu, HYE, Waterhouse, P, Murphy, G, Moorehead, RA and Khokha, R (2001). Accelerated apoptosis in the TIMP-3 deficient mammary gland. J Clin Invest 108(6): 831-841.
   
9. Yeow, KM, Phillips, BW, Beaudry, PP, Leco, KJ, Murphy, G and Edwards, DR. (2001). Expression of MMPs and TIMPs in mammalian cells. Methods Mol Biol 151:181 9.
   
10. Fata, JE, Ho, AT-V, Leco, KJ, Moorehead, RA, and Khokha, R (2000). Cellular turnover and extracellular matrix remodelling in female reproductive tissues: functions of metalloproteinases and their inhibitors. Cell Mol Life Sci 57: 77-95. Note: all authors contributed equally to this manuscript.