The major menstrual cycle phases are regulated by sex steroids and have long been identified as menstrual, proliferative, and secretory. Latest research suggests that more detailed understanding regarding hormonal regulation of various cell types in the endometrium is required to understand the differences between normal and diseased endometrium, and to resolve pathogenesis of endometrial diseases. We aim to provide an in-depth mapping of the factors critical for normal endometrial function across the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy as well as factors contributing to endometriosis and adenomyosis growth, and to preeclampsia. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are practical clinical challenges. These endometrial diseases significantly contribute to infertility and compromise quality of life. We apply large clinical cohorts, advanced in vitro and in vivo techniques as well as genomic, epigenetic, and single cell approaches.
PIs: Taija Heinosalo, PhD, adjunct professor; Kalle Rytkönen, PhD, adjunct professor; Matti Poutanen, PhD, professor; Antti Perheentupa, MD, PhD, adjunct professor
Members involved
Postdoctoral Researchers: Pia Suvitie, MD, PhD; Marianne Hallamaa, MD, PhD; Michael Gabriel, MD, PhD
Technicians: Madeleine Latvala
Selected publications about research
Gabriel M, Fey V, Heinosalo T, Adhikari P, Rytkönen K, Komulainen T, Huhtinen K, Laajala TD, Siitari H, Virkki A, Suvitie P, Kujari H, Aittokallio T, Perheentupa A, Poutanen M. A relational database to identify differentially expressed genes in the endometrium and endometriosis lesions. Sci Data. 2020 Aug 28;7(1):284.
Rytkönen KT, Heinosalo T, Mahmoudian M, Ma X, Perheentupa A, Elo LL, Poutanen M, Wagner GP. Transcriptomic responses to hypoxia in endometrial and decidual stromal cells. Reproduction. 2020 Jul;160(1):39-51.
Heinosalo T, Gabriel M, Kallio L, Adhikari P, Huhtinen K, Laajala TD, Kaikkonen E, Mehmood A, Suvitie P, Kujari H, Aittokallio T, Perheentupa A, Poutanen M. Secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (SFRP2) expression promotes lesion proliferation via canonical WNT signaling and indicates lesion borders in extraovarian endometriosis. Hum Reprod. 2018 May 1;33(5):817-831.
Häkkinen MR, Heinosalo T, Saarinen N, Linnanen T, Voutilainen R, Lakka T, Jääskeläinen J, Poutanen M, Auriola S. Analysis by LC-MS/MS of endogenous steroids from human serum, plasma, endometrium and endometriotic tissue. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2018 Apr 15;152:165-17.
Gidwani K, Huhtinen K, Kekki H, van Vliet S, Hynninen J, Koivuviita N, Perheentupa A, Poutanen M, Auranen A, Grenman S, Lamminmäki U, Carpen O, van Kooyk Y, Pettersson K. A Nanoparticle-Lectin Immunoassay Improves Discrimination of Serum CA125 from Malignant and Benign Sources. Clin Chem. 2016 Oct;62(10):1390-400.