Faculty

Jenifer Fenton, Assistant Professor

M.P.H., University of Michigan, 2003
Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1999
M.S., University of Missouri, Columbia, 1995
B.S., University of Missouri, Columbia, 1993

208B G.M. Trout FSHN Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1224
Phone: (517) 355-8474, Ext. 130
Lab: (517) 355-8474, Ext. 214
Fax: (517) 353-8963
E-mail: imigj@msu.edu

Research Funding: 

Cancer Prevention Research Small Grant Program (R03): Cancer Cause and Prevention Research. Title: Adipokines regulate colon epithelial cell homeostasis.

Research Interests: 

Mechanisms involved in the association between systemic obesity-related hormones and growth factors [leptin, adiponectin, insulin-related growth factors (IGF's) and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] and colon carcinogenesis. Obesity is directly associated with an increased risk of cancer at several organ sites. Adipose tissue secretes hormones that may play a role in the systemic inflammatory state that is associated with obesity and subsequent cancer risk. The adipose-derived growth factors and hormones, like leptin, are elevated in obese individuals and may be related to colon cancer risk in obese individuals. We are studying the colon epithelial cell microenvironment and how epithelial/immune cell cross talk can alter that environment to favor cancer promotion.

Recent Publications:

Fenton JI, Nunez N, Yakar S, Perkins S, Hord NG, Hursting SD.  Dietary modulation of energy balance alters the serum profile of inflammation in C57BL/6N mice.  Submitted to Journal of Nutrition.

Fenton JI, Birmingham J, Hursting SD and Hord NG.  Adiponectin blocks leptin-induced NFkβ DNA binding, interleukin-6 trans signaling and resulting cell proliferation in ApcMin colon epithelial cells. Int J Cancer. 2008 Jun 1;122(11):2437-45.

Fenton JI, Lavigne JA, Perkins SN, Liu H, Chandramouli GV, Shih JH, Hord, NG and Hursting SD. Microarray analysis reveals distinct leptin-induced cell growth gene expression profiles in colon epithelial cell lines contrasting in Apc genotype. Molecular Carcinogenesis,  2008 Jan;47(1):9-21.

Hord NG and Fenton JI. CONTEXT IS EVERYTHING: Mining the normal and preneoplastic microenvironment for insights into the diet and cancer risk conundrum. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2007 Jan;51(1):100-6.

Fenton JI, Hursting SD, Perkins SN, Hord NG. Leptin induces an Apc genotype-associated colon epithelial cell chemokine production pattern associated with macrophage chemotaxis and activation. Carcinogenesis. 2007 Feb;28(2):455-64.

Fenton JI, Hord NG, Perkins SN, Hursting SD. IL-6 production induced by leptin treatment induces cell proliferation in an Apc (min/+) colonic epithelial cell line. Carcinogenesis. 2006; 27(7):1507-15.

Fenton JI and Hord NG. STAGE MATTERS: Employing in vitro models useful for diet and cancer chemoprevention prevention research. Carcinogenesis. 2006; 27(5):893-902.

Fenton JI, Hord NG, Lavigne JA, Perkins SN, Hursting SD. Leptin, insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor-2 are mitogens in Apc (min/+) but not Apc (+/+) colonic epithelial cell lines. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2005; 14(7):1646-1651.

Fenton JI, Hord NG. Flavonoids promote cell migration in non-tumorigenic colon epithelial cells differing in Apc genotype: implications of matrix metalloproteinase activity. Nutr Cancer. 2004; 48(2):182-8.

Fenton JI, Wolff MS, Orth MW, Hord NG. Membrane-type matrix metalloproteinases mediate curcumin-induced cell migration in non-tumorigenic colon epithelial cells differing in Apc genotype. Carcinogenesis. 2002 Jun; 23(6):1065-70.

Fenton JI, Chlebek-Brown KA, Caron JP, Orth MW. Effect of glucosamine on interleukin-1-conditioned articular cartilage. Equine Vet J Suppl. 2002 Sep; (34):219-23.

Tung JT, Fenton JI, Arnold C, Alexander L, Yuzbasiyan-Gurkan V, Venta PJ, Peters TL, Orth MW, Richardson DW, Caron JP. Recombinant equine interleukin-1beta induces putative mediators of articular cartilage degradation in equine chondrocytes. Can J Vet Res. 2002 Jan; 66(1):19-25.

Fenton JI, Chlebek-Brown KA, Peters TL, Caron JP, Orth MW. The effects of glucosamine derivatives on equine articular cartilage degradation in explant culture. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2000 Nov; 8(6):444-51.

Fenton JI, Chlebek-Brown KA, Peters TL, Caron JP, Orth MW. Glucosamine HCl reduces equine articular cartilage degradation in explant culture. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2000 Jul; 8(4):258-65.

Fenton JI, Orth MW, Chlebek-Brown KA, Nielsen BD, Corn CD, Waite KS, Caron JP. Effect of longeing and glucosamine supplementation on serum markers of bone and joint metabolism in yearling quarter horses. Can J Vet Res. 1999 Oct; 63(4):288-91.

Orth MW, Fenton JI, Chlebek-Brown KA. Biochemical characterization of cartilage degradation in embryonic chick tibial explant cultures. Poult Sci. 1999 Nov; 78(11):1596-600.

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