2026 Taina Pihlajaniemi: Biology and Biochemistry Researcher – H-Index, Publications & Awards

Discipline name	D-Index	World Ranking	Current World Ranking	National Ranking	Current National Ranking	Publications	Citations
Biology and Biochemistry	90	2487	2279	14	13	323	21884

Overview

Taina Pihlajaniemi is affiliated with the University of Oulu in Finland and has a research focus primarily in the fields of Medicine and Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology.

Their work spans several subfields including Molecular Biology, Immunology and Allergy, Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine, Oncology, and Cell Biology. This broad spectrum highlights a multidisciplinary approach centered on complex biological systems and disease processes.

The main research topics of their work cover:

Cell Adhesion Molecules Research
Angiogenesis and VEGF in Cancer
Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
Cancer Cells and Metastasis
Renal and related cancers
Renal cell carcinoma treatment
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

Some of the recent publications by Pihlajaniemi include:

Collagen XV, a multifaceted multiplexin present across tissues and species, 2020, Matrix Biology Plus
Collagens Regulating Adipose Tissue Formation and Functions, 2023, Biomedicines
Integrin α11β1 is a receptor for collagen XIII, 2020, Cell and Tissue Research
The Burden of Post-Translational Modification (PTM)-Disrupting Mutations in the Tumor Matrisome, 2021, Cancers
Lack of collagen XVIII leads to lipodystrophy and perturbs hepatic glucose and lipid homeostasis, 2020, The Journal of Physiology

Their frequent co-authors include:

Valerio Izzi
Jarkko Koivunen
Sanna-Maria Karppinen
Ritva Heljäsvaara
Anne Heikkinen

Publication venues where Pihlajaniemi has contributed multiple articles are:

Faculty Opinions - Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature
Matrix Biology
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Journal of Clinical Investigation

Best Publications

VEGFR-3 and Its Ligand VEGF-C Are Associated with Angiogenesis in Breast Cancer

Reija Valtola;Petri Salven;Päivi Heikkilä;Jussi Taipale

770
Citations
Interaction of endostatin with integrins implicated in angiogenesis.

Marko Rehn;Tanja Veikkola;Eola Kukk-Valdre;Hitoshi Nakamura

649
Citations
Molecular cloning of the beta-subunit of human prolyl 4-hydroxylase. This subunit and protein disulphide isomerase are products of the same gene.

T. Pihlajaniemi;T. Helaakoski;K. Tasanen;R. Myllylä

592
Citations
LACK OF COLLAGEN XVIII/ENDOSTATIN RESULTS IN EYE ABNORMALITIES

Naomi Fukai;Lauri Eklund;Alexander G. Marneros;Suk Paul Oh

477
Citations
Collagen Hydroxylases and the Protein Disulfide Isomerase Subunit of Prolyl 4‐Hydroxylases

Kari I. Kivirikko;Taina Pihlajaniemi

429
Citations
Protein hydroxylation: prolyl 4-hydroxylase, an enzyme with four cosubstrates and a multifunctional subunit.

Kari I. Kivirikko;Raili Myllylä;Taina Pihlajaniemi

427
Citations
The Short and Long Forms of Type XVIII Collagen Show Clear Tissue Specificities in Their Expression and Location in Basement Membrane Zones in Humans

Janna Saarela;Marko Rehn;Aarne Oikarinen;Helena Autio-Harmainen

361
Citations
A single polypeptide acts both as the beta subunit of prolyl 4-hydroxylase and as a protein disulfide-isomerase.

J Koivu;R Myllylä;T Helaakoski;T Pihlajaniemi

325
Citations
Lack of type XV collagen causes a skeletal myopathy and cardiovascular defects in mice

Lauri Eklund;Jarkko Piuhola;Jyrki Komulainen;Raija Sormunen

285
Citations
Alpha 1(XVIII), a collagen chain with frequent interruptions in the collagenous sequence, a distinct tissue distribution, and homology with type XV collagen.

Marko Rehn;Taina Pihlajaniemi

277
Citations
Osteogenesis imperfecta: cloning of a pro-alpha 2(I) collagen gene with a frameshift mutation.

T Pihlajaniemi;L A Dickson;F M Pope;V R Korhonen

272
Citations
Assembly of human prolyl 4‐hydroxylase and type III collagen in the yeast Pichia pastoris: formation of a stable enzyme tetramer requires coexpression with collagen and assembly of a stable collagen requires coexpression with prolyl 4‐hydroxylase

Annamari Vuorela;Johanna Myllyharju;Ritva Nissi;Taina Pihlajaniemi

265
Citations
Generation of biologically active endostatin fragments from human collagen XVIII by distinct matrix metalloproteases

Ritva Heljasvaara;Pia Nyberg;Jani Luostarinen;Mataleena Parikka

265
Citations
cDNA clones coding for the pro-alpha1(IV) chain of human type IV procollagen reveal an unusual homology of amino acid sequences in two halves of the carboxyl-terminal domain.

T Pihlajaniemi;K Tryggvason;J C Myers;M Kurkinen

261
Citations
Redox-fibrosis: Impact of TGFβ1 on ROS generators, mediators and functional consequences.

Kati Richter;Anja Konzack;Taina Pihlajaniemi;Ritva Heljasvaara

250
Citations
Distinct Recognition of Collagen Subtypes by α1β1 and α2β1Integrins α1β1 MEDIATES CELL ADHESION TO TYPE XIII COLLAGEN

Petri Nykvist;Hongmin Tu;Johanna Ivaska;Jarmo Käpylä

236
Citations
Endostatin inhibits human tongue carcinoma cell invasion and intravasation and blocks the activation of matrix metalloprotease-2, -9, and -13.

Pia Nyberg;Pia Heikkilä;Timo Sorsa;Jani Luostarinen

229
Citations
Site-directed Mutagenesis of Human Protein Disulphide Isomerase: Effect on the Assembly, Activity and Endoplasmic Reticulum Retention of Human Prolyl 4-hydroxylase in Spodoptera Frugiperda Insect Cells

K Vuori;T Pihlajaniemi;R Myllylä;K I Kivirikko

218
Citations
Identification of three N-terminal ends of type XVIII collagen chains and tissue-specific differences in the expression of the corresponding transcripts. The longest form contains a novel motif homologous to rat and Drosophila frizzled proteins.

Marko Rehn;Taina Pihlajaniemi

213
Citations
Prolyl 4-hydroxylase and its role in collagen synthesis.

Taina Pihlajaniemi;Raili Myllylä;Kari I. Kivirikko

211
Citations