Sarka Lehtonen
Tutkimusjohtaja
I lead the Human Brain Disease Modelling research lab at the A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences where I work as a Sigrid Jusélius Research Fellow.
Adjunct Prof. in Pharmacology
A.I. Virtanen -instituutti, Terveystieteiden tiedekunta
sarka.lehtonen@uef.fi
My focus in recent years has been to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurological diseases, especially Parkinson`s disease, schizophrenia and psychopathy. We use patient-derived brain cells in 2D and 3D culture systems to mimic the pathological conditions in the diseased brain more accurately. We also center our efforts on discovering new drug targets and biomarkers for the studied diseases. As the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the ability of drugs to cross the BBB and reach the correct target is critical when designing drugs for neurological diseases, our third aim is to establish a simple model that mimics the physiological architecture and the barrier properties of the BBB. Once created, the ability of novel drugs and biomolecules like extracellular vesicles to penetrate the BBB can be tested. The model can also be used to understand the molecular and transport mechanisms that regulate BBB permeability in physiological and pathological conditions. Gained knowledge and novel discoveries will open in the future new opportunities for therapeutic developments.
For more information, please visit our research group website: https://sites.uef.fi/human-brain-disease-modelling-group/
Julkaisut
57/57 kappaletta-
Genetic contribution to microglial activation in schizophrenia
Koskuvi, Marja; Pörsti, Elina; Hewitt, Tristen; Räsänen, Noora; Wu, Ying-Chieh; Trontti, Kalevi; McQuade, Amanda; Kalyanaraman, Shringaa; Ojansuu, Ilkka; Vaurio, Olli; Cannon, Tyrone D; Lönnqvist, Jouko; Therman, Sebastian; Suvisaari, Jaana; Kaprio, Jaakko; Blurton-Jones, Mathew; Hovatta, Iiris; Lähteenvuo, Markku; Rolova, Taisia; Lehtonen, Šárka; Tiihonen, Jari; Koistinaho, Jari. 2024. Molecular psychiatry. [Published: 22 March 2024]: 1-12 -
Identification of the abnormalities in astrocytic functions as potential drug targets for neurodegenerative disease
Syvänen, Valtteri; Koistinaho, Jari; Lehtonen, Sarka. 2024. Expert opinion on drug discovery. [Epub ahead of print 26 Feb 202]: -
Particulate matter from car exhaust alters function of human iPSC-derived microglia
Jäntti, Henna; Jonk, Steffi; Gómez Budia, Mireia; Ohtonen, Sohvi; Fagerlund, Ilkka; Fazaludeen, Mohammad Feroze; Aakko-Saksa, Päivi; Pebay, Alice; Lehtonen, Šárka; Koistinaho, Jari; Kanninen, Katja M; Jalava, Pasi I; Malm, Tarja; Korhonen, Paula. 2024. Particle and fibre toxicology. 21: . 6 -
Human iPSC-derived microglia carrying the LRRK2-G2019S mutation show a Parkinson’s disease related transcriptional profile and function
Ohtonen, Sohvi; Giudice, Luca; Jäntti, Henna; Fazaludeen, Mohammad Feroze; Shakirzyanova, Anastasia; Gómez-Budia, Mireia; Välimäki, Nelli-Noora; Niskanen, Jonna; Korvenlaita, Nea; Fagerlund, Ilkka; Koistinaho, Jari; Amiry-Moghaddam, Mahmood; Savchenko, Ekaterina; Roybon, Laurent; Lehtonen, Šárka; Korhonen, Paula; Malm, Tarja. 2023. Scientific reports. 13: . 22118 -
SARS-CoV-2 Infection of Human Neurons Is TMPRSS2 Independent, Requires Endosomal Cell Entry, and Can Be Blocked by Inhibitors of Host Phosphoinositol-5 Kinase
Kettunen, Pinja; Lesnikova, Angelina; Räsänen, Noora; Ojha, Ravi; Palmunen, Leena; Laakso, Markku; Lehtonen, Šárka; Kuusisto, Johanna; Pietiläinen, Olli; Saber, Saber H; Joensuu, Merja; Vapalahti, Olli P; Koistinaho, Jari; Rolova, Taisia; Balistreri, Giuseppe. 2023. Journal of virology. 97: . e00144-23 -
Species-specific metabolic reprogramming in human and mouse microglia during inflammatory pathway induction
Sabogal-Guáqueta, Angélica María; Marmolejo-Garza, Alejandro; Trombetta-Lima, Marina; Oun, Asmaa; Hunneman, Jasmijn; Chen, Tingting; Koistinaho, Jari; Lehtonen, Sarka; Kortholt, Arjan; Wolters, Justina C; Bakker, Barbara M; Eggen, Bart J L; Boddeke, Erik; Dolga, Amalia. 2023. Nature communications. 14: . 6454 -
Astrocyte Progenitors Derived From Patients With Alzheimer Disease Do Not Impair Stroke Recovery in Mice
Välimäki, Nelli-Noora; Bakreen, Abdulhameed; Häkli, Sara; Dhungana, Hiramani; Keuters, Meike H; Dunlop, Yannick; Koskuvi, Marja; Keksa-Goldsteine, Velta; Oksanen, Minna; Jäntti, Henna; Lehtonen, Šárka; Malm, Tarja; Koistinaho, Jari; Jolkkonen, Jukka. 2022. Stroke. 53: 3192-3201 -
CNS Redox Homeostasis and Dysfunction in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Goldsteins, Gundars; Hakosalo, Vili; Jaronen, Merja; Keuters, Meike Hedwig; Lehtonen, Šárka; Koistinaho, Jari. 2022. Antioxidants. 11: -
Cellular Models of Alpha-Synuclein Aggregation: What Have We Learned and Implications for Future Study
Albert, Katrina; Kälvälä, Sara; Hakosalo, Vili; Syvänen, Valtteri; Krupa, Patryk; Niskanen, Jonna; Peltonen, Sanni; Sonninen, Tuuli-Maria; Lehtonen, Šárka. 2022. Biomedicines. 10: -
Microglial amyloid beta clearance is driven by PIEZO1 channels
Jäntti, Henna; Sitnikova, Valeriia; Ishchenko, Yevheniia; Shakirzyanova, Anastasia; Giudice, Luca; Ugidos, Irene F; Gómez-Budia, Mireia; Korvenlaita, Nea; Ohtonen, Sohvi; Belaya, Irina; Fazaludeen, Feroze; Mikhailov, Nikita; Gotkiewicz, Maria; Ketola, Kirsi; Lehtonen, Šárka; Koistinaho, Jari; Kanninen, Katja M; Hernández, Damian; Pébay, Alice; Giugno, Rosalba; Korhonen, Paula; Giniatullin, Rashid; Malm, Tarja. 2022. Journal of neuroinflammation. 19: . 147