Damdimopoulou lab - Chemicals and female fertility

Projects

Chemical exposures and fertility in women

Aim

To identify chemical exposures that associate with reduced fertility in women

Methods

We use data from various cohorts to analyze associations between exposure to chemicals and fertility in women. For example, we study whether chemicals present in patients undergoing fertility treatment associate to ovarian function and chances of live birth. We also study the impact of chemotherapy on ovarian health in patients exposed to chemotherapy.

These studies are based on collaborations Dr Holte (Carl von Linnékliniken in Uppsala), Assc Prof Sjunnesson and Dr Persson (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala), Prof Olovsson (Uppsala University), Prof Jahnukainen (University of Helsinki, Finland), Prof van Duursen (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), and Prof Acharya, Dr Pettersson, Dr Brusell Gidlöf and Dr Papaikonomou (Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital).

Selected publications

“Identification of biomarkers and outcomes of endocrine disruption in human ovarian cortex using In Vitro Models" Li et al. 2023 Toxicology

“Follicular fluid and blood levels of persistent organic pollutants and reproductive outcomes among women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies" Björvang et al. 2021 Environ Res

“Persistent organic pollutants and the size of ovarian reserve in reproductive-aged women” Björvang et al. 2021 Environ Int

“Persistent organic pollutants, pre-pregnancy used of combined oral contraceptives, age and time-to-pregnancy in the SELMA cohort” Björvang et al. accepted for publication in Environ Health

”Impact of First-Line Cancer Treatment on the Follicle Quality in Cryopreserved Ovarian Samples From Girls and Young Women” Pampanini et al. 2019 Hum Reprod

Molecular and cellular characterization of human ovaries

Aim

To map cellular composition of human ovaries from birth to menopause

Methods

We carry out a molecular and cellular characterization of human ovarian tissue on a single cell level to identify different cell populations in normal human ovaries from childhood through fertile years to menopause. We have initiated a national fertility preservation study for girls and young women, entitled Sveafertil, that gives patients at very high risk of treatment-induced infertility the chance for fertility preservation through cryopreservation of ovarian tissue. A small fragment of the tissue comes to our research. We carry out single-cell transcriptomics on the samples to construct a molecular blueprint of human ovaries.

These projects are based on a collaboration with Prof Jahnukainen, Dr Tuuri and Dr Otala (University of Helsinki, Finland), Dr Petersen (Sahlgrenska University Hospital), Prof Salumets, Prof Acharya, and Dr Lanner (Karolinska Institutet), Dr Pettersson, Dr Brusell Gidlöf, and Dr Papaikonomou (Karolinska University Hospital), Assc Prof Velthult-Meikas (Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia), and all pediatric oncology and hematology units in Sweden.

Selected publications

"Spatial Proteomics for Further Exploration of Missing Proteins: A Case Study of the Ovary” Mear et al. 2022 J Proteome Res

”Single-cell Analysis of Human Ovarian Cortex Identifies Distinct Cell Populations but No Oogonial Stem Cells” Wagner et al. 2020 Nat Commun

“Fertility Preservation for Prepubertal Patients at Risk of Infertility: Present Status and Future Perspectives” Pampanini et al. 2020 Horm Res Paediatr

ONLINE RESOURCE E-ovary

Mechanisms of chemical disruption in ovaries

Aim

To identify mechanisms of chemical toxicity in ovaries.

Methods

We use human ovarian tissue culture and cell cultures to identify mechanisms underpinning chemical toxicity in ovaries. We study how the chemicals we have identified in our cohort studies impact ovarian follicle viability and growth using tissue culture and transcriptomics technologies. We develop “adverse outcome pathways (AOP)” following the OECD endorsed strategy for describing adverse health outcomes to increase the regulatory impact of our findings.

These studies are a part of larger collaborative networks where novel assays for reproductive toxicity in the female are developed: the EU-project FREIA and the Swedish Research Council FORMAS-funded project Pandora. Key collaborators include Dr Svingen (Technical University of Denmark), Dr Holte and Prof Olovsson (University of Uppsala), Prof Salumets (Karolinska Institutet), Dr Velthult-Meikas (Tallinn University of Technology), Prof Flaws (University of Illinois, USA), Dr Öberg (Karolinska Institutet), and Prof van Duursen (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands).

Selected publications

"Association between chemical mixtures and female fertility in women undergoing assisted reproduction in Sweden and Estonia” Li et al. 2023 Toxicology

“AOP key event relationship report: Linking decreased androgen receptor activation with decreased granulosa cell proliferation of gonadotropin-independent follicles” Panagiotou et al. 2022 Reprod Tox

"A Pragmatic Approach to Adverse Outcome Pathway Development and Evaluation” Svingen et al. 2021 Toxicol Sci

”Putative adverse outcome pathways for female reproductive disorders to improve testing and regulation of chemicals.” Johansson et al. 2020 Arch Toxicol

”Safeguarding Female Reproductive Health Against Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals-The FREIA Project” van Duursen et al. 2020 Int J Mol Sci

In vitro models of ovaries

We use human ovarian tissue to develop culture models that mimic ovaries in vitro. Such models are needed to assess toxicity of chemicals in animal-free and human relevant settings. In addition, models that mimic ovaries could be used to mature oocytes in vitro in the future.

The work on in vitro models of ovaries includes collaborations with BioLamina, Prof Salumets (Karolinska Institutet), and Dr Pettersson, Dr Brusell Gidlöf, and Dr Papaikonomou (Karolinska University Hospital).

Selected publications

“Culture of human ovarian tissue in xeno-free conditions using laminin components of the human ovarian extracellular matrix” Hao et al. 2020 J Assist Reprod Genet

Acknowledgements

Our studies on human ovarian tissue are inspired by Prof Emerita Outi Hovatta. The work would not be possible without the precious tissue donations by patients attending Karolinska University Hospital, and the dedicated hospital personnel. We sincerely thank all patients giving tissues to our studies, and the clinicians that make our studies possible.

All our studies are covered by ethical approvals from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority.