Coeliac researcher Keijo Viiri searches for new treatments by diving into cell biology

Keijo Viiri, Associate Professor of Molecular Medicine, is a basic research scientist through and through. He is fascinated by fundamental cellular processes, particularly gene regulation. Because almost every disease involves faulty gene function, a single breakthrough in basic research can pave the way for new treatments across multiple conditions.

“Resolving a single biological mechanism often turns out to be key across a wide range of diseases. That is why I find exploring core mechanisms far more compelling than focusing solely on one specific condition,” Viiri explains.

His field, molecular medicine, examines what happens inside cells during disease and how illnesses develop at the genetic and protein levels. By pinpointing precisely where to intervene within a cell, researchers can design more targeted drugs and personalized therapies.

Inflammation disrupts normal gene regulation in the coeliac gut

Throughout his career, Viiri has focused extensively on the underlying mechanisms of coeliac disease. Up to a third of Finns carry the tissue type that predisposes them to coeliac disease, and just over two per cent of the population develop the condition.

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which gluten triggers the body to attack its own intestinal tissue, causing chronic inflammation. Over time, this inflammation damages the villi lining the small intestine, preventing the normal absorption of nutrients.

Why does inflammation cause such severe damage in people with coeliac disease?

“During inflammation, something extraordinary happens: thousands of genes suddenly turn off, while thousands of others are abruptly activated. What triggers this reaction at the molecular level, however, has remained a mystery,” says Viiri.

Now, Viiri’s research group is closing in on the answer. Preliminary findings show that inflammation disrupts the metabolism of intestinal cells. When metabolic balance is lost, the cells’ ability to read their own genes is impaired. As a result, the cells lose their specialized function, and the protective lining of the gut fails.

To address this, Viiri’s team has screened potential drug molecules and developed an experimental drug that may protect the body from the damaging effects of gluten.

“I am excited that we are close to deciphering what happens in the intestinal surface cells during inflammation. Once we understand this mechanism, it may be possible in the future to prevent coeliac-related gut damage entirely,” Viiri says.

A deep dive into cellular mechanics

Viiri serves as an Associate Professor in the University of Oulu’s Health Dimensions research programme, which studies human health and disease development holistically, from societal factors down to intracellular structures. Viiri’s work represents the cellular and molecular dimension of the programme.

This rigorous focus on cellular structures previously led Viiri to another autoimmune condition linked to coeliac disease: type 1 diabetes. While originally investigating gene expression in intestinal cells, his team uncovered a novel mechanism that disrupts the functional balance of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

They are now investigating how to prevent this stress state that impairs insulin production, aiming to lay the groundwork for future diabetes treatments.

“This is a prime example of how going deep into basic cell biology allows us to identify a single crucial protein that can then be targeted to treat a disease,” Viiri explains.

The gut acts as a gateway for pathogens

Viiri describes the gut as the body’s largest interface with the external environment, through which various pathogens enter our system.

One such pathogen is the enterovirus, which in recent years has been linked to the onset of both coeliac disease and type 1 diabetes. Researchers are currently exploring whether a severe enterovirus infection combined with cereal consumption plays a role in triggering coeliac disease. They are also investigating whether an enterovirus reaching the pancreas via the gut might trigger diabetes.

“We are about to publish a study that may help explain how enteroviruses in the gut predispose individuals to coeliac disease,” Viiri shares.

The researcher already has his sights set on his next topic, exploring the link between ageing and gut health. As people age, baseline systemic inflammation increases. If an ageing person’s gut barrier becomes compromised, pathogens can more easily enter the body.

“I want to understand which mechanisms in the gut break down as we age, and how lifestyle factors influence this process. My long-term goal is to apply this approach to the study of ageing and discover how we can support the health of the ageing gut.”

Who?

Keijo Viiri

• Associate Professor of Molecular Medicine in the Health Dimensions research programme at the University of Oulu.
• Worked at the Celiac Disease Research Center (CeliRes) at the University of Tampere and as a postdoctoral researcher at University College London (UCL), UK, focusing on basic mechanisms of gene regulation.
• PhD from the Coeliac Disease Research Group at the University of Tampere (2009), with a dissertation on fundamental intestinal biology. MSc in Biology from the University of Oulu (2002), alongside studies in biochemistry and formal teaching qualifications.
• Completed secondary education at Tornio High School.