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Investigation of infertility using endometrial organoids.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Nikolakopoulou, Konstantina  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2306-590X
Turco, Margherita Y  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3380-7375

Abstract

Infertility is a common problem in modern societies with significant socio-psychological implications for women. Therapeutic interventions are often needed which, depending on the cause, can either be medical treatment, surgical procedures or assisted reproductive technology (ART). However, the treatment of infertility is not always successful due to our limited understanding of the preparation of the lining of the uterus, the endometrium, for pregnancy. The endometrium is of central importance for successful reproduction as it is the site of placental implantation providing the interface between the mother and her baby. Due to the dynamic, structural and functional changes the endometrium undergoes throughout the menstrual cycle, it is challenging to study. A major advancement is the establishment of 3D organoid models of the human endometrium to study this dynamic tissue in health and disease. In this review, we describe the changes that the human endometrium undergoes through the different phases of the menstrual cycle in preparation for pregnancy. We discuss defects in the processes of endometrial repair, decidualization and acquisition of receptivity that are associated with infertility. Organoids could be utilized to investigate the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms occurring in non-pregnant endometrium and early pregnancy. These studies may lead to therapeutic applications that could transform the treatment of reproductive failure.

Description

Keywords

Endometrium, Female, Humans, Infertility, Female, Organoids, Reproduction

Journal Title

Reproduction

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1470-1626
1741-7899

Volume Title

161

Publisher

Bioscientifica
Sponsorship
European Commission Horizon 2020 (H2020) ERC (853546)