Fibrosis research group

23.01.2024

Fibrosis
Macrophages
Disease mechanisms

Fibrotic diseases are widespread and difficult to treat diseases in the world. Our research focuses on Dupuytren’s disease that is a common chronic fibrotic disease of the palm. As the disease progresses, thickening of the palmar connective tissue leads to permanent flexion deformities of the fingers. The cause of Dupuytren’s disease is not known and currently there are no approved treatment to control the progression of early-stage disease.

Our research group works on characterizing the molecular mechanisms that initiate and regulate the chronic fibrotic disease. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind the disease onset will help to define targets for drug development of Dupuytren’s disease treatment. The focus of our research is on interactions between immune cells, especially macrophages, and the extracellular matrix components with the aim to characterize potentially important signaling pathways in disease pathology.

Mäemets-Allas, Kristina; Klaas, Mariliis; Cárdenas-León, Claudia Griselda; Arak, Terje; Kankuri, Esko; Jaks, Viljar (2023). Stimulation with THBS4 activates pathways that regulate proliferation, migration and inflammation in primary human keratinocytes. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 642, 97−106. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.12.052.
Klaas, Mariliis; Dubock, Stuart; Ferguson, David J P; Crocker, Paul R (2023). Sialoadhesin (CD169/Siglec-1) is an extended molecule that escapes inhibitory cis-interactions and synergizes with other macrophage receptors to promote phagocytosis. Glycoconjugate Journal, 40 (2). DOI: 10.1007/s10719-022-10097-1.
Cárdenas-León, C.G.; Mäemets-Allas, K.; Klaas, M.; Maasalu, K.; Jaks, V. (2023). Proteomic Analysis of Dupuytren’s Contracture-Derived Sweat Glands Revealed the Synthesis of Connective Tissue Growth Factor and Initiation of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition as Major Pathogenetic Events. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24 (2), 1081. DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021081.
Klaas, Mariliis; Mäemets-Allas, Kristina; Heinmäe, Elizabeth; Lagus, Heli; Arak, Terje; Eller, Mart; Kingo, Külli; Kankuri, Esko; Jaks, Viljar (2022). Olfactomedin-4 improves cutaneous wound healing by promoting skin cell proliferation and migration through POU5F1/OCT4 and ESR1 signalling cascades. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 79 (3), 157. DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04202-8.
Cárdenas León, Claudia Griselda; Klaas, Mariliis; Mäemets-Allas, Kristina; Arak, Terje; Eller, Mart; Jaks, Viljar (2022). Olfactomedin 4 regulates migration and proliferation of immortalized non-transformed keratinocytes through modulation of the cell cycle machinery and actin cytoskeleton remodelling. Experimental Cell Research, 415 (1), 113111. DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2022.113111.