Cell Biology and Biochemistry
 | Jannette M. Dufour, Ph.D.Associate ProfessorPh.D. Genetics and Cell Biology Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry |
Research Interests
Sertoli cells, Immune privilege, Transplantation, Diabetes, Islets, Gene therapy, Cell Therapy.
Current projects | Selected publications | laboratory | curriculum vitae
Current Projects
Current research is focused on the use of immunoprotective Sertoli cells in transplantation.
Transplantation of genetically modified, immune-privileged Sertoli cells
In this project, we are evaluating the feasibility of using immune-privileged Sertoli cells as a vehicle to deliver therapeutically relevant proteins. Specifically, the ability of insulin-expressing Sertoli cells to normalize blood glucose levels long-term in diabetic mice and survive after transplantation across immunological barriers.
Immune-privileged Sertoli cells as a treatment for diabetes
The objective of this project is to determine the mechanism by which Sertoli cells protect co-transplanted pancreatic islets in order to increase knowledge of what is necessary to create an immune privileged site and ultimately to improve outcomes of islet transplantation.
Selected Publications
- Kaur G, Long CR, Dufour JM. 2012 Genetically engineered immune privileged Sertoli cells – a new road to cell based gene therapy. Spermatogenesis 2:23-31. Cover photo [PubMed]
- Doyle TJ, Kaur G, Putrevu SM, Dyson EL, Dyson M, McCunniff WT, Kim KH, Dufour JM. 2012 Potential genes and pathways that confer immune privilege: immunoprotective properties of Sertoli cell-enriched testicular cells. Biology of Reproduction 86:1-14. [PubMed]
- Kaur G, Dufour JM. 2012 Editorial: Cell lines – Valuable tools or useless artifacts. Spermatogenesis 2:1-5. [PubMed]
- Mital P, Hinton BT, Dufour JM. 2011 The blood-testis and blood-epididymal barriers are more than just their tight junctions. Biology of Reproduction 84:851–858. [PubMed]
- Halley KR, Dyson EL, Kaur G, Mital P, Uong P, Dass B, Dufour JM. 2010 Delivery of a therapeutic protein by immune privileged Sertoli cells. Cell Transplantation 19:1645-1657. [PubMed]
- Mital P, Kaur G, Dufour JM. 2010 Immunoprotective Sertoli cells: Making allogeneic and xenogeneic transplantation feasible. Reproduction 139:495-504. [PubMed]
- Dufour JM, Lord SJ, Kin T, Rayat GR, Dixon DE, Bleackley RC, Korbutt GS, Rajotte RV. 2008 Comparison of successful and unsuccessful islet/Sertoli cell co-transplant grafts in streptozotocin induced diabetic mice. Cell Transplantation 16:1029-1038. [PubMed]
- Dufour JM, Dass B, Halley K, Korbutt GS, Dixon DE, Rajotte RV. 2008 Sertoli cell line lacks the immunoprotective properties associated with primary Sertoli cells. Cell Transplantation 17:525-534. Cover photo [PubMed]
- Lord SJ, Sipione S, Motyka B, Ewen C, Shostak I, Rayat GR, Dufour JM, Korbutt GS, Rajotte RV, Bleackley RC. 2006 Identification of a novel human granzyme B inhibitor secreted by cultured Sertoli cells. Journal of Immunology 177:5051-5058. [PubMed]
- Dufour JM, Hamilton M, Rajotte RV, Korbutt GS. 2005 Neonatal porcine Sertoli cells inhibit human natural antibody mediated lysis. Biology of Reproduction 72:1224-1231. [PubMed]
- Dufour JM, Rajotte RV, Zimmerman M, Rezania A, Kin T, Dixon DE, Korbutt GS. 2005 Development of an ectopic site for islet transplantation using biodegradable scaffolds. Tissue Engineering 9/10:1323-1331. [PubMed]
- Kin T, Korbutt GS, Kobayashi T, Dufour JM, Rajotte. 2005 Reversal of diabetes in pancreatectomized pigs after transplantation of neonatal porcine islets. Diabetes 54:1032-1039. [PubMed]
- Dufour JM, Hemendinger R, Halberstadt CR, Gores P, Emerich DF, Korbutt GS, Rajotte RV. 2004 Genetically engineered Sertoli cells are able to survive allogeneic transplantation. Gene Therapy 11:694-700. [PubMed]
- Dufour JM, Rajotte RV, Seeberger K, Kin T, Korbutt GS. 2003 Long-term survival of neonatal porcine Sertoli cells in non- immunosuppressed rats. Xenotransplantation. 10:577-586. [PubMed]