His research line "Cellular perception and response to the microenvironment" cuts across biological models and revolves around a central question:
How do cells detect specific signals from their environment and translate that information into critical decisions about their fate, such as proliferating, differentiating, surviving, or repairing tissue?
He investigated how neural cells respond to intrinsic signals during development, studying the MARCKS protein family in morphogenesis and cell migration (J. Exp. Zool., 2017). He studied how human tumor cells perceive signals from their environment and proliferate in response. He demonstrated that microenvironmental signals, mediated by the S100-A9 protein in exosomes (Blood, 2017) or regulated by microRNAs such as miR-22 (Leukemia, 2015), activate survival and proliferation pathways (such as PI3K/AKT and NF-κB) in tumor cells. He also explored the role of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) as a marker of tumor progression (British J. Haematol, 2018).
Using the fruit fly, he studied how different cell types (neurons and glial cells) exhibit specific and compartmentalized transcriptomic responses to hypoxia (low oxygen) during development (Biology Open, 2020). He proposed a mechanistic hypothesis in which atypical guanylyl cyclases, which produce cGMP, could mediate these responses. He developed a transgenic line expressing a cGMP sensor (microPublication Biology, 2023) and performed functional validation. Manipulation of these enzymes alters brain size (microPublication Biology, 2024a) and is specific to neuroblasts and ganglion mother cells (Gyc89Db does not increase neuroepithelium size; microPublication Biology, 2024b).
He studied the Ptr23c mutant and its role in hemocyte differentiation and survival/movement (Arch. Ins. Bioch. Phys., 2025). Although focused on the immune system and behavior, these studies explore how a signaling pathway (related to Hedgehog) can have pleiotropic effects in different tissues, a concept analogous to guanylyl cyclases with context-dependent functions.
He currently investigates signaling in the spinal cord. On one hand (bioRxiv, 2026a), he identified PKD2L1 channels as the exclusive pH sensors in cerebrospinal fluid-contacting neurons, showing how these specialized neurons monitor the chemical composition (pH) of their immediate microenvironment. On the other hand, he studies how latent progenitor cells in the injured spinal cord are mobilized to contribute to repair. Recently (bioRxiv, 2026b), he has shown that connexins are essential for this process. Connexins are fundamental for cells to sense their neighbors and the injury microenvironment, coordinating the reparative response.
His line of work on the "Social and political microenvironment of science" also reflects a concern for the scientific ecosystem, publishing on open science in Uruguay (Informatio, 2022), defending research funding (Nature, 2020), and advocating for multilingualism in publications (Nature, 2018), demonstrating an awareness of the social and political environment in which science is conducted.
Working area
Dr. Prieto's research integrates cellular and developmental neurobiology. His is interested in understanding how cells --especially neural cells and their progenitors-- sense and respond to their local microenvironment. This includes responses to physical cues (cell-cell communication, mechanosensation), chemical signals (oxygen, pH), and intracellular pathways (cGMP signaling). His work includes vertebrate models (mice spinal cord, zebrafish development), Drosophila genetics and biosensors to understand conserved mechanisms of cell plasticity, survival and repair.
Personal information
ORCID:0000-0001-8356-1708 SCOPUS: 56076343200 CVUy:see Institution: Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable