| 1. |
- Ruuth, M., et al.
(författare)
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Susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein particles to aggregate depends on particle lipidome, ismodifiable, and associates with future cardiovascular deaths
- 2018
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Ingår i: European Heart Journal. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 39:27
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles cause atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) through their retention, modification, and accumulation within the arterial intima. High plasma concentrations of LDL drive this disease, but LDL quality may also contribute. Here, we focused on the intrinsic propensity of LDL to aggregate upon modification. We examined whether inter-individual differences in this quality are linked with LDL lipid composition and coronary artery disease (CAD) death, and basic mechanisms for plaque growth and destabilization. Methods and results We developed a novel, reproducible method to assess the susceptibility of LDL particles to aggregate during lipolysis induced ex vivo by human recombinant secretory sphingomyelinase. Among patients with an established CAD, we found that the presence of aggregation-prone LDL was predictive of future cardiovascular deaths, independently of conventional risk factors. Aggregation-prone LDL contained more sphingolipids and less phosphatidylcholines than did aggregation-resistant LDL. Three interventions in animal models to rationally alter LDL composition lowered its susceptibility to aggregate and slowed atherosclerosis. Similar compositional changes induced in humans by PCSK9 inhibition or healthy diet also lowered LDL aggregation susceptibility. Aggregated LDL in vitro activated macrophages and T cells, two key cell types involved in plaque progression and rupture. Conclusion Our results identify the susceptibility of LDL to aggregate as a novel measurable and modifiable factor in the progression of human ASCVD.
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| 2. |
- Gabriel, M., et al.
(författare)
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A relational database to identify differentially expressed genes in the endometrium and endometriosis lesions
- 2020
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Ingår i: Scientific Data. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2052-4463. ; 7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Endometriosis is a common inflammatory estrogen-dependent gynecological disorder, associated with pelvic pain and reduced fertility in women. Several aspects of this disorder and its cellular and molecular etiology remain unresolved. We have analyzed the global gene expression patterns in the endometrium, peritoneum and in endometriosis lesions of endometriosis patients and in the endometrium and peritoneum of healthy women. In this report, we present the EndometDB, an interactive web-based user interface for browsing the gene expression database of collected samples without the need for computational skills. The EndometDB incorporates the expression data from 115 patients and 53 controls, with over 24000 genes and clinical features, such as their age, disease stages, hormonal medication, menstrual cycle phase, and the different endometriosis lesion types. Using the web-tool, the end-user can easily generate various plot outputs and projections, including boxplots, and heatmaps and the generated outputs can be downloaded in pdf-format.
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| 3. |
- Vehmas, A. P., et al.
(författare)
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Ovarian Endometriosis Signatures Established through Discovery and Directed Mass Spectrometry Analysis
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Proteome Research. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1535-3893 .- 1535-3907. ; 13:11, s. 4983-4994
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- New molecular information on potential therapeutic targets or tools for noninvasive diagnosis for endometriosis are important for patient care and treatment. However, surprisingly few efforts have described endometriosis at the protein level. In this work we enumerate the proteins in patient endometrium and ovarian endometrioma by extensive and comprehensive analysis of minute amounts of cryosectioned tissues in a three-tiered mass spectrometric approach. Quantitative comparison of the tissues revealed 214 differentially expressed proteins in ovarian endometrioma and endometrium. These proteins are reported here as a resource of SRM (selected reaction monitoring) assays that are unique, standardized, and openly available. Pathway analysis of the proteome measurements revealed a potential role for Transforming growth factor beta-1 in ovarian endometriosis development. Subsequent mRNA microarray analysis further revealed clear ovarian endometrioma specificity for a subset of these proteins, which was also supported by further in silico studies. In this process two important proteins emerged, Calponin-1 and EMILIN-1, that were additionally confirmed in ovarian endometrioma tissues by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. This study provides the most comprehensive molecular description of ovarian endometriosis to date and researchers with new molecular methods and tools for high throughput patient screening using the SRM assays.
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| 4. |
- Heinosalo, T., et al.
(författare)
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Secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (SFRP2) expression promotes lesion proliferation via canonical WNT signaling and indicates lesion borders in extraovarian endometriosis
- 2018
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Ingår i: Human Reproduction. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0268-1161 .- 1460-2350. ; 33:5, s. 817-831
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- STUDY QUESTION: What is the role of SFRP2 in endometriosis? SUMMARY ANSWER: SFRP2 acts as a canonical WNT/CTNNBI signaling agonist in endometriosis, regulating endometriosis lesion growth and indicating endometriosis lesion borders together with CTNNBI (also known as beta catenin). WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Endometriosis is a common, chronic disease that affects women of reproductive age, causing pain and infertility, and has significant economic impact on national health systems. Despite extensive research, the pathogenesis of endometriosis is poorly understood, and targeted medical treatments are lacking. WNT signaling is dysregulated in various human diseases, but its role in extraovarian endometriosis has not been fully elucidated. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: We evaluated the significance of WNT signaling, and especially secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (SFRP2), in extraovarian endometriosis, including peritoneal and deep lesions. The study design was based on a cohort of clinical samples collected by laparoscopy or curettage and questionnaire data from healthy controls and endometriosis patients. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Global gene expression analysis in human endometrium ( n = 104) and endometriosis (n = 177) specimens from 47 healthy controls and 103 endometriosis patients was followed by bioinformatics and supportive qPCR analyses. Immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, primary cell culture and siRNA knockdown approaches were used to validate the findings. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Among the 220 WNT signaling and CTNNBI target genes analysed, 184 genes showed differential expression in extraovarian endometriosis (P < 0.05) compared with endometrium tissue, including SFRP2 and CTNNI. Menstrual cycle-dependent regulation of WNT genes observed in the endometrium was lost in endometriosis lesions, as shown by hierarchical clustering. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that SFRP2 and CTNNBI are novel endometriosis lesion border markers, complementing immunostaining for the known marker CD10 (also known as MME). SFRP2 and CTNNBI localized similarly in both the epithelium and stroma of extraovarian endometriosis tissue, and interestingly, both also indicated an additional distant lesion border, suggesting that WNT signaling is altered in the endometriosis stroma beyond the primary border indicated by the known marker CD10. SFRP2 expression was positively associated with pain symptoms experienced by patients (P < 0.05), and functional loss of SFRP2 in extraovarian endometriosis primary cell cultures resulted in decreased cell proliferation (P < 0.05) associated with reduced CTNNBI protein expression (P = 0.05). LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION: SFRP2 and CTNNBI improved extraovarian endometriosis lesion border detection in a relatively small cohort (n = 20), although larger studies with different endometriosis subtypes in variable cycle phases and under hormonal medication are required. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The highly expressed SFRP2 and CTNNBI improve endometriosis lesion border detection, which can have clinical implications for better visualization of endometriosis lesions over CD10. Furthermore, SFRP2 acts as a canonical WNT/CTNNBI signaling agonist in endometriosis and positively regulates endometriosis lesion growth, suggesting that the WNT pathway may be an important therapeutic target for endometriosis.
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| 5. |
- Huhtaniemi, R., et al.
(författare)
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Adrenals Contribute to Growth of Castration-Resistant VCaP Prostate Cancer Xenografts
- 2018
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Ingår i: American Journal of Pathology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9440. ; 188:12, s. 2890-2901
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The role of adrenal androgens as drivers for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) growth in humans is generally accepted; however, the value of preclinical mouse models of CRPC is debatable, because mouse adrenals do not produce steroids activating the androgen receptor. In this study, we confirmed the expression of enzymes essential for de novo synthesis of androgens in mouse adrenals, with high intratissue concentration of progesterone (P4) and moderate levels of androgens, such as androstenedione, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone, in the adrenal glands of both intact and orchectomized (ORX) mice. ORX alone had no effect on serum P4 concentration, whereas orchectomized and adrenalectomized (ORX + ADX) resulted in a significant decrease in serum P4 and in a further reduction in the low levels of serum androgens (androstenedione, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone), measured by mass spectrometry. In line with this, the serum prostate-specific antigen and growth of VCaP xenografts in mice after ORX + ADX were markedly reduced compared with ORX alone, and the growth difference was not abolished by a glucocorticoid treatment. Moreover, ORX + ADX altered the androgen-dependent gene expression in the tumors, similar to that recently shown for the enzalutamide treatment. These data indicate that in contrast to the current view, and similar to humans, mouse adrenals synthesize significant amounts of steroids that contribute to the androgen receptor–dependent growth of CRPC. © 2018 American Society for Investigative Pathology
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| 6. |
- Huvila, J., et al.
(författare)
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Combined ASRGL1 and p53 immunohistochemistry as an independent predictor of survival in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma
- 2018
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Ingår i: Gynecologic Oncology. - : Academic Press Inc.. - 0090-8258 .- 1095-6859. ; 149:1, s. 173-180
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: In clinical practise, prognostication of endometrial cancer is based on clinicopathological risk factors. The use of immunohistochemistry-based markers as prognostic tools is generally not recommended and a systematic analysis of their utility as a panel is lacking. We evaluated whether an immunohistochemical marker panel could reliably assess endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) outcome independent of clinicopathological information. Methods: A cohort of 306 EEC specimens was profiled using tissue microarray (TMA). Cost- and time-efficient immunohistochemical analysis of well-established tissue biomarkers (ER, PR, HER2, Ki-67, MLH1 and p53) and two new biomarkers (L1CAM and ASRGL1) was carried out. Statistical modelling with embedded variable selection was applied on the staining results to identify minimal prognostic panels with maximal prognostic accuracy without compromising generalizability. Results: A panel including p53 and ASRGL1 immunohistochemistry was identified as the most accurate predictor of relapse-free and disease-specific survival. Within this panel, patients were allocated into high- (5.9%), intermediate- (29.5%) and low- (64.6%) risk groups where high-risk patients had a 30-fold risk (P < 0.001) of dying of EEC compared to the low-risk group. Conclusions: P53 and ASRGL1 immunoprofiling stratifies EEC patients into three risk groups with significantly different outcomes. This simple and easily applicable panel could provide a useful tool in EEC risk stratification and guiding the allocation of treatment modalities.
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| 7. |
- Bjorkgren, I., et al.
(författare)
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Targeted inactivation of the mouse epididymal beta-defensin 41 alters sperm flagellar beat pattern and zona pellucida binding
- 2016
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Ingår i: Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0303-7207. ; 427:C, s. 143-154
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- During epididymal maturation, sperm acquire the ability to swim progressively by interacting with proteins secreted by the epididymal epithelium. Beta-defensin proteins, expressed in the epididymis, continue to regulate sperm motility during capacitation and hyperactivation in the female reproductive tract. We characterized the mouse beta-defensin 41 (DEFB41), by generating a mouse model with iCre recombinase inserted into the first exon of the gene. The homozygous Defb41(iCre/iCre) knock-in mice lacked Defb41 expression and displayed iCre recombinase activity in the principal cells of the proximal epididymis. Heterozygous Defb41(iCre/+) mice can be used to generate epididymis specific conditional knock-out mouse models. Homozygous Defb41(iCre/iCre) sperm displayed a defect in sperm motility with the flagella primarily bending in the pro-hook conformation while capacitated wild-type sperm more often displayed the anti-hook conformation. This led to a reduced straight line motility of Defb41(iCre/liCre) sperm and weaker binding to the oocyte. Thus, DEFB41 is required for proper sperm maturation.
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| 8. |
- Huhtaniemi, R., et al.
(författare)
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High intratumoral dihydrotestosterone is associated with antiandrogen resistance in VCaP prostate cancer xenografts in castrated mice
- 2022
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Ingår i: iScience. - : Elsevier BV. - 2589-0042. ; 25:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Antiandrogen treatment resistance is a major clinical concern in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) treatment. Using xenografts of VCaP cells we showed that growth of antiandrogen resistant CRPC tumors were characterized by a higher intratumor dihydrotestosterone (DHT) concentration than that of treatment responsive tumors. Furthermore, the slow tumor growth after adrenalectomy was associated with a low intratumor DHT concentration. Reactivation of androgen signaling in enzalutamide-resistant tumors was further shown by the expression of several androgen-dependent genes. The data indicate that intratumor DHT concentration and expression of several androgen-dependent genes in CRPC lesions is an indication of enzalutamide treatment resistance and an indication of the need for further androgen blockade. The presence of an androgen synthesis, independent of CYP17A1 activity, has been shown to exist in prostate cancer cells, and thus, novel androgen synthesis inhibitors are needed for the treatment of enzalutamide-resistant CRPC tumors that do not respond to abiraterone.
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| 9. |
- Knuuttila, M., et al.
(författare)
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Castration Induces Up-Regulation of Intratumoral Androgen Biosynthesis and Androgen Receptor Expression in an Orthotopic VCaP Human Prostate Cancer Xenograft Model
- 2014
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Ingår i: American Journal of Pathology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9440. ; 184:8, s. 2163-2173
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Androgens are key factors involved in the development and progression of prostate cancer (PCa), and PCa growth can be suppressed by androgen deprivation therapy. In a considerable proportion of men receiving androgen deprivation therapy, however, PCa progresses to castration-resistant PCa (CRPC), making the development of efficient therapies challenging. We used an orthotopic VCaP human PCa xenograft model to study cellular and molecular changes in tumors after androgen deprivation therapy (castration). Tumor growth was monitored through weekly serum prostate-specific antigen measurements, and mice with recurrent tumors after castration were randomized to treatment groups. Serum prostate-specific antigen concentrations showed significant correlation with tumor volume. Castration-resistant tumors retained concentrations of intratumoral androgen (androstenedione, testosterone, and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone) at Levels similar to tumors growing in intact hosts. Accordingly, castration induced up-regulation of enzymes involved in androgen synthesis (CYP17A1, AKR1C3, and HSD17B6), as well as expression of full-length androgen receptor (AR) and AR splice variants (AR-V1 and AR-V7). Furthermore, AR target gene expression was maintained in castration-resistant xenografts. The AR antagonists enzalutamide (MDV3100) and ARN-509 suppressed PSA production of castration-resistant tumors, confirming the androgen dependency of these tumors. Taken together, the findings demonstrate that our VCaP xenograft model exhibits the key characteristics of clinical CRPC and thus provides a valuable tool for identifying druggable targets and for testing therapeutic strategies targeting AR signaling in CRPC.
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| 10. |
- Laajala, T. D., et al.
(författare)
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Optimized design and analysis of preclinical intervention studies in vivo
- 2016
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recent reports have called into question the reproducibility, validity and translatability of the preclinical animal studies due to limitations in their experimental design and statistical analysis. To this end, we implemented a matching-based modelling approach for optimal intervention group allocation, randomization and power calculations, which takes full account of the complex animal characteristics at baseline prior to interventions. In prostate cancer xenograft studies, the method effectively normalized the confounding baseline variability, and resulted in animal allocations which were supported by RNA-seq profiling of the individual tumours. The matching information increased the statistical power to detect true treatment effects at smaller sample sizes in two castration-resistant prostate cancer models, thereby leading to saving of both animal lives and research costs. The novel modelling approach and its open-source and web-based software implementations enable the researchers to conduct adequately-powered and fully-blinded preclinical intervention studies, with the aim to accelerate the discovery of new therapeutic interventions.
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| 11. |
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| 12. |
- Vehmas, A. P., et al.
(författare)
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Liver lipid metabolism is altered by increased circulating estrogen to androgen ratio in male mouse
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Proteomics. - : Elsevier BV. - 1874-3919. ; 133, s. 66-75
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Estrogens are suggested to lower the risk of developing metabolic syndrome in both sexes. In this study, we investigated how the increased circulating estrogen-to-androgen ratio (E/A) alters liver lipid metabolism in males. The cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) is an enzyme converting androgens to estrogens. Male mice overexpressing human aromatase enzyme (AROM + mice), and thus have high circulating E/A, were used as a model in this study. Proteomics and gene expression analyses indicated an increase in the peroxisomal beta-oxidation in the liver of AROM + mice as compared with their wild type littermates. Correspondingly, metabolomic analysis revealed a decrease in the amount of phosphatidylcholines with long-chain fatty acids in the plasma. With interest we noted that the expression of Cyp4a12a enzyme, which specifically metabolizes arachidonic acid (AA) to 20-hydroxy AA, was dramatically decreased in the AROM + liver. As a consequence, increased amounts of phospholipids having AA as a fatty acid tail were detected in the plasma of the AROM + mice. Overall, these observations demonstrate that high circulating E/A in males is linked to indicators of higher peroxisomal beta-oxidation and lower AA metabolism in the liver. Furthermore, the plasma phospholipid profile reflects the changes in the liver lipid metabolism. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 14. |
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