Jannette M. Dufour, Ph.D. | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Jannette M. Dufour, Ph.D.

Professor & Dept. Chair

Jannette M. Dufour, Ph.D.
 

Ph.D. Genetics and Cell Biology
Washington State University
Curriculum Vitae
Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
3601 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79430-6540
Office Phone: (806) 743-2616
jannette.dufour@ttuhsc.edu

Research Interests

Sertoli Cells, Immune Regulation, Transplantation, Diabetes, Islets, Gene Therapy, Cell Therapy.

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

(From 74 peer-reviewed publications) Full publications list: NCBI My Bibliography

  • Washburn RL, Martinez-Marin D, Korac K, Sniegowski T, Hibler T, Rodriguez AR, Chilton BS, Pruitt K, Dufour JM. 2023 The Sertoli cell complement signature: A suspected mechanism in xenograft survival. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24:1890. doi: 10.3390/ijms24031890.
  • Washburn RL, Dufour JM. 2023 Complementing testicular immune regulation: The relationship between Sertoli cell, complement, and the immune response. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24:3371. doi: 10.3390/ijms24043371.
  • Washburn RL, Martinez-Marin D, Sniegowski T, Korac K, Hibler T, Rodriguez AR, Miranda JM, Chilton BS, Bright RK, Pruitt K, Bhutia YD, Dufour JM. 2023 Sertoli cells express accommodation, survival and immunoregulatory factors when exposed to human serum.  Biomedicines 11, 1650; doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11061650 
  • Washburn RL, Hibler T, Thompson LA, Kaur G, Dufour JM. 2022 Therapeutic application of Sertoli cells for treatment of various diseases. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology 121: 10-23. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.04.007.
  • Washburn RL, Hibler T, Kaur G, Dufour JM. 2022 Sertoli cell immune regulation: a double-edged sword. Frontiers in Immunology 13:913502. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.913502
  • Kaur G, Wright K, Verma S, Haynes A, Dufour JM. 2021The good, the bad and the ugly of testicular immune regulation: a delicate balance between immune function and immune privilege. In: C. Yan Cheng (Ed.) Molecular Mechanisms in Spermatogenesis, Springer Nature, Basingstoke, United Kingdom. Adv Exp Med Biol. 1288:21-47. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-77779-1_2.
  • Kaur G, Wright K, Mital P, Hibler T, Miranda JM, Thompson LA, Halley K, Dufour JM. 2020 Neonatal pig Sertoli cells survive xenotransplantation by creating an immune modulatory environment involving regulatory T cells. Cell Transplantation 29:963689720947102. doi: 10.1177/0963689720947102.
  • Kaur G, Thompson LA, Babcock RL, Mueller K, Dufour JM. 2018 Sertoli cells engineered to express insulin lower blood glucose in diabetic mice. DNA and Cell Biology doi: 10.1089/dna.2017.3937.Cover photo PubMed
  • Wright K, Dziuk R, Mital P, Kaur G, Dufour JM. 2016 Xenotransplanted neonatal pig Sertoli cells inhibit both alternative and classical pathways of complement mediated cell lysis. Cell Transplantation 25:2027-2040. PubMed
  • Franca LR, Hess RA, Dufour JM, Hofmann MC, Griswold MD. 2016 The Sertoli cell: one hundred fifty years of beauty and plasticity. Andrology 4:189-212. PubMed
  • Kaur G, Thompson LA, Dufour JM. 2015 Therapeutic potential of immune privileged Sertoli cells. Animal Reproduction12:105-117. PubMed
  • Mital P, Kaur G, Bowlin B, Paniagua NJ, Korbutt GS, Dufour JM. 2014 Nondividing, post-pubertal rat Sertoli cells resumed proliferation after transplantation. Biology of Reproduction 90:1, 13. PubMed
  • Kaur G, Thompson LA, Dufour JM. 2014 Sertoli cells: Immunological sentinels of spermatogenesis. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology 30:36-44. PubMed
  • Kaur G, Thompson LA, Pasham M, Tessanne K, Long CR, Dufour JM. 2014 Sustained expression of insulin by a genetically engineered Sertoli cell line after allotransplantation in diabetic BALB/c mice. Biology of Reproduction 90:5, 109. Selected for a Commentary (Cupp AS, Sertoli cell based gene therapy. 2014 Biology of Reproduction) 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
  • 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
  • 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, 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