We study accumulation of cholesterol in arteries during atherogenesis and look for ways to identify individuals at high risk for development of cardiovascular disease.
LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is a particle that carries cholesterol in the blood. High levels of LDL-cholesterol increase the chance of a heart attack. In addition, the quality of the cholesterol-carrying LDL particles may influence the cardiovascular risk of a person.
We have recently developed a method for monitoring the quality of LDL particles in blood circulation by measuring the tendency of LDL particles to aggregate after their enzymatic treatment. Aggregation-prone LDL particles can accumulate in the arterial wall, where they may induce the formation of cholesterol-rich, inflamed plaques that can rupture and cause a heart attack. We have shown that LDL isolated from patients with known cardiovascular disease is more aggregation-prone than LDL isolated from healthy individuals. The most aggregation-prone LDL was found in those patients who later died because of cardiovascular disease.
We are currently examining the factors that influence the quality of LDL particles and other circulating lipoproteins and their accumulation in the arteries. Although lipoprotein quality is largely controlled by genetic factors, the quality can be improved by cholesterol-lowering medication or by a healthy diet. We are currently working on finding new ways to improve lipoprotein quality.
Current Group members
Martin Hermansson Ph.D., post-doctoral researcher
Martina Lorey Ph.D., post-doctoral researcher
Lauri Äikäs, M.Sc., Ph.D researcher
Alina Iakubovskaia, M.Sc., Ph.D. researcher
Anni Niemelä, M.Sc. Tech., Ph.D. researcher
Julia Salín, M.Sc., laboratory assistant
Maija Atuegwu, Laboratory technician
Su Duy Nguyen, Ph.D., Adj. Prof.,
Maija Ruuth, Ph.D., University of Helsinki, completed thesis in the group 2020
Katariina Maaninka, Ph.D., University of Helsinki, completed thesis in the group 2018
Satu Lehti, Ph.D., completed thesis in the group 2017
Kristiina Rajamäki, Ph.D., completed thesis in the group 2016
Riia Plihtari, Ph.D., completed thesis in the group 2010
Katariina Lähdesmäki, Ph.D., completed thesis in the group 2010
Tiia Kittilä, completed MSc thesis in the group
Mia Sneck, completed MSc thesis in the group
Elina Tonteri, Med. student, completed B.Med. thesis in the group
Aurora Vikström, Med. student, completed B.Med. thesis in the group
Aapeli Kemppainen, completed B.Med. thesis in the group
Low-density lipoprotein particles carrying proinflammatory proteins with altered aggregation pattern detected in COVID-19 patients 3 months after hospitalization.
Ueland T, Äikäs LAO, Dahl TB, Gregersen I, Olsen MB, Michelsen A, Schanke Y, Holopainen M, Ruhanen H, Singh S; NOR-SOLIDARITY Consortium; Tveita AA, Finbråten AK, Heggelund L, Trøseid M, Dyrhol-Riise AM, Nyman TA, Holven KB, Öörni K, Aukrust P, Halvorsen B. J Infect. 2023 May;86(5):489-492. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2023.02.024.
The human liver lipidome is significantly related to the lipid composition and aggregation susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles.
Lahelma M, Qadri S, Ahlholm N, Porthan K, Ruuth M, Juuti A, Orešič M, Hyötyläinen T, Öörni K, Yki-Järvinen H. (2022) Atherosclerosis ;363:22-29. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2022.11.018.
Modified Lipoproteins Induce Arterial Wall Inflammation During Atherogenesis.
Lorey MB, Öörni K, Kovanen PT.
Front Cardiovasc Med. 2022 Mar 3;9:841545. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.841545. eCollection 2022.
Children with familial hypercholesterolemia display changes in LDL and HDL function: a cross-sectional study. Christensen JJ, Narverud I, Ruuth M, Heier M, Jauhiainen M, Ulven SM, Bogsrud MP, Kovanen PT, Halvorsen B, Oda MN, Wium C, Retterstøl K, Öörni K§, Holven KB§. (2021) J. Intern. Med. 290:1083-1097 doi: 10.1111/joim.13383
Overfeeding saturated fat increases LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) aggregation susceptibility while overfeeding unsaturated fat decreases proteoglycan-binding of lipoproteins. Ruuth M, Lahelma M, Luukkonen PK, Lorey MB, Qadri S, Sädevirta S, Hyötyläinen T, Kovanen PT, Hodson L, Yki-Järvinen H & Öörni K. (2021) Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 11:2823-2836. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.120.315766
Low-density lipoprotein aggregation predicts adverse cardiovascular events in peripheral artery disease. Heffron, S. P., Ruuth, M., Xia, Y., Hernandez, G., Rodriguez, C., Öörni, K.* & Berger, J. S.* (2021) Atherosclerosis 316:53-57. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2020.11.016
Lysophosphatidylcholine in phospholipase A 2-modified LDL triggers secretion of angiopoietin 2. Nguyen SD, Korhonen EA, Lorey MB, Hakanpää L, Mäyränpää MI, Kovanen PT, Saharinen P, Alitalo K & Öörni K. 2021, Atherosclerosis. 327:87-00. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2021.04.007
Plant stanol esters reduce LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) aggregation by altering LDL surface lipids: The BLOOD FLOW randomized intervention study. Ruuth M., Äikäs L., Tigistu-Sahle F., Käkelä R., Lindholm H., Simonen P., Kovanen P. T., Gylling H. & Öörni K. 2020, Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 40, 9 p. 2310–2321. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.120.314329
Susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein particles to aggregate depends on particle lipidome, is modifiable, and associates with future cardiovascular deaths. Ruuth M., Nguyen S. D., Vihervaara T., Hilvo M., Laajala T. D., Kondadi P. K., Gisterå A., Lähteenmäki H., Kittilä T., Huusko J., Uusitupa M., Schwab U., Savolainen M. J., Sinisalo J., Lokki M. L., Nieminen M. S., Jula A., Perola M., Ylä-Herttula S., Rudel L., Öörni A., Baumann M., Baruch A., Laaksonen R., Ketelhuth D. F. J., Aittokallio T., Jauhiainen M., Käkelä R., Borén J., Williams K. J., Kovanen P. T., Öörni K. Jul 14, 2018, Eur Heart J. 39, 27, p. 2562–2573. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehy319.
Extracellular lipids accumulate in human carotid arteries as distinct three-dimensional structures and have proinflammatory properties. Lehti S., Nguyen S. D., Belevich I., Vihinen H., Heikkilä H. M., Soliymani R., Käkelä R., Saksi J., Jauhiainen M., Grabowski G. A., Kummu O., Hörkkö S., Baumann M., Lindsberg P. J., Jokitalo E., Kovanen P. T. & Öörni K. Feb 2018, Am J Pathol. 188, 2, p. 525–538. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2017.09.019.
p38δ MAPK: A novel regulator of NLRP3 inflammasome activation with increased expression in coronary atherogenesis. Rajamäki K., Mäyränpää M. I., Risco A., Tuimala J., Nurmi K., Cuenda A., Eklund K. K., Öörni K. & Kovanen P. T. Sep 2016 Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 36, 9. p. 1937-1946. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.115.307312.
Spatial distributions of lipids in atherosclerosis of human coronary arteries studied by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. Lehti S., Sjövall P., Käkelä R., Mäyränpää M. I.
