Sertoli Technologies Inc.

Platform technology enabling therapeutic transplantation of cells and cell-based gene therapy especially for type I diabetes

Sertoli Technologies Inc. (STI) is based on the work of Dr. Helena Selawry at the University of Tennessee Medical Center and the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center, both in Memphis. In 1996, STI acquired exclusive rights to patent applications related to the use of Sertoli cells from Research Corporation Technologies (RCT).

101 N. Wilmot Road, Suite 600
Tucson, AZ 85711-3365
USA
Phone: +1-520-748-4400
Fax: +1-520-748-0025

STI’s technology is based on the Sertoli cells, which are normally found in testes synthesising cytokines and growth factors to protect and mature developing spermatozoa. In addition, Sertoli cells are also responsible for the immunoprivileged characteristic of the testis. Thus Sertoli cells have the natural ability to modulate the immune system.

Sertoli cells transplanted into an ectopic location (i.e. not in the testes) create an immunologically protected environment at any site. It also has been shown that Sertoli cells can protect and enhance the growth of co-transplanted tissue, enabling the therapeutic transplantation of a broad variety of cell types without chronic use of immunosuppressive drugs.

Sertoli’s cell-based technology can provide local immunomodulatory factors (self-protection or protection of another co-transplanted cell), deliver growth factors or desired factors using transgenic Sertoli cells modified to produce the target protein. Sertolin® and Hemaphix® are currenty in preclinical development.