The focus of the ENDOBANK project is the endometrium, the mucosal lining of the uterus. This tissue has a remarkable capacity to regenerate, as it goes through monthly cycles of breakdown (menstruation), growth, and differentiation. The endometrium of women with PMOS is dysfunctional, which leads to abnormal inflammatory profile, dysregulated hormonal responses, and suboptimal differentiation.
In the ENDOBANK project, we have collected endometrial samples from over a hundred women with PMOS as well as from controls. We have timed the collections by the LH surge (ovulation) and collected samples from different menstrual cycle phases and also from anovulatory, acyclic women. From the collected endometrial samples, we have isolated primary stromal fibroblasts, and generated epithelial organoids. We have also assessed vaginal and uterine microbiome changes in the women.
The ENDOBANK also contains extensive clinical data, including gynecological ultrasound data. From serum samples, we have analyzed hormones, such as steroids (LC-MS) and AMH.
ENDOBANK Team:
- Professor Terhi Piltonen, MD, PhD
- Adjunct professor Riikka K. Arffman, PhD
- Senior scientist Ulla Saarela, PhD
Top publications from the ENDOBANK project:
Luyckx L, Wei M, Saarela U, Myllykangas M, Kinnunen J, Arffman RK, Lie Fong S, Vriens J, Vankelecom H, Piltonen TT. PCOS endometrium-derived epithelial organoids as a novel model to study the disease endometrial dysfunction. 2025. Human Reproduction, 40;8, 1535–1549.
Lee S, Aasmets O, Arffman RK, Laru J, Rossi H-R, Salumets A, Piltonen TT, Org E. The reproductive tract microbiome in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and across different menstrual cycle phases. 2025. Human Reproduction. 10.1093/humrep/deae270.
Lee S, Arffman RK, Komsi EK, Lindgren O, Kemppainen J, Kask K, Saare M, Salumets A, Piltonen TT. Dynamic changes in AI-based analysis of endometrial cellular composition: Analysis of PCOS and RIF endometrium. J Pathol Inform. 2024 Feb 1;15:100364. doi: 10.1016/j.jpi.2024.100364.
Kangasniemi M, Komsi E, Rossi H-R, Liakka A, Puukka K, Chen JC, Paulson LCM, Lindén-Hirschberg A, Arffman RK, Piltonen TT. 2022. AI deep learning model assessment of proliferation and leucocyte migration in healthy and PCOS human endometrium. F&S Science.
Khatun M, Meltsov A, Lavogina D, Suhorutshenko M, Rossi HR, Kask K, Arffman RK, Lättekivi F, Jääger K, Krjutskov K, Rinken A, Salumets A, Piltonen TT. Decidualized endometrial stromal cells present with altered androgen response in PCOS. 2021. Sci Rep. 2021 Aug 11;11(1):16287. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-95705-0.