Organoids of the female reproductive tract.


Change log
Authors
Chumduri, Cindrilla 
Turco, Margherita Y  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3380-7375
Abstract

Healthy functioning of the female reproductive tract (FRT) depends on balanced and dynamic regulation by hormones during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and childbirth. The mucosal epithelial lining of different regions of the FRT-ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and vagina-facilitates the selective transport of gametes and successful transfer of the zygote to the uterus where it implants and pregnancy takes place. It also prevents pathogen entry. Recent developments in three-dimensional (3D) organoid systems from the FRT now provide crucial experimental models that recapitulate the cellular heterogeneity and physiological, anatomical and functional properties of the organ in vitro. In this review, we summarise the state of the art on organoids generated from different regions of the FRT. We discuss the potential applications of these powerful in vitro models to study normal physiology, fertility, infections, diseases, drug discovery and personalised medicine.

Description

Funder: Centre for Trophoblast Research

Keywords
Cancers, Female reproductive tract, Fertility, Infection, Organoids, Pregnancy, Reproductive health, Animals, CRISPR-Cas Systems, Drug Discovery, Estrous Cycle, Extracellular Matrix, Female, Fertility, Gene Editing, Genital Diseases, Female, Genitalia, Female, Gestational Age, Gonadal Steroid Hormones, Humans, Maternal-Fetal Exchange, Mice, Organoids, Pituitary Hormones, Anterior, Placenta, Precision Medicine, Pregnancy, Stem Cells, Tissue Engineering
Journal Title
J Mol Med (Berl)
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
0946-2716
1432-1440
Volume Title
99
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
European Commission Horizon 2020 (H2020) ERC (853546)