TY - JOUR
KW - 3D-cell culture
KW - Glycodelin A
KW - Endometriosis
KW - human endometrium
KW - implantation
AU - Alice Luddi
AU - Valentina Pavone
AU - Bianca Semplici
AU - Laura Governini
AU - Mattia Criscuoli
AU - Eugenio Paccagnini
AU - Mariangela Gentile
AU - Giuseppe Morgante
AU - Vincenzo De Leo
AU - Giuseppe Belmonte
AU - Natasa Zarovni
AU - Paola Piomboni
AB - Embryo implantation has been defined as the “black box” of human reproduction. Most of the knowledge on mechanisms underlining this process derives from animal models, but they cannot always be translated to humans. Therefore, the development of an in vitro/ex vivo model recapitulating as closely and precisely as possible the fundamental functional features of the human endometrial tissue is very much desirable. Here, we have validated endometrial organoids as a suitable 3D-model to studying epithelial endometrial interface for embryo implantation. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy analyses showed that organoids preserve the glandular organization and cell ultrastructural characteristics. They also retain the responsiveness to hormonal treatment specific to the corresponding phase of the menstrual cycle, mimicking the in vivo glandular-like aspect and functions. Noteworthy, organoids mirroring the early secretive phase show the development of pinopodes, large cytoplasmic apical protrusions of the epithelial cells, traditionally considered as reliable key features of the implantation window. Moreover, organoids express glycodelin A (GdA), a cycle-dependent marker of the endometrial receptivity, with its quantitative and qualitative features accounting well for the profile detected in the endometrium in vivo. Accordingly, organoids deriving from the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis show a GdA glycosylation pattern significantly different from healthy organoids, confirming our prior data on endometrial tissues. The present results strongly support the idea that organoids may closely recapitulate the molecular and functional characteristics of their cells/tissue of origin.
BT - Cells
DA - 2020/5
DO - 10.3390/cells9051121
IS - 5
LA - en
N2 - Embryo implantation has been defined as the “black box” of human reproduction. Most of the knowledge on mechanisms underlining this process derives from animal models, but they cannot always be translated to humans. Therefore, the development of an in vitro/ex vivo model recapitulating as closely and precisely as possible the fundamental functional features of the human endometrial tissue is very much desirable. Here, we have validated endometrial organoids as a suitable 3D-model to studying epithelial endometrial interface for embryo implantation. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy analyses showed that organoids preserve the glandular organization and cell ultrastructural characteristics. They also retain the responsiveness to hormonal treatment specific to the corresponding phase of the menstrual cycle, mimicking the in vivo glandular-like aspect and functions. Noteworthy, organoids mirroring the early secretive phase show the development of pinopodes, large cytoplasmic apical protrusions of the epithelial cells, traditionally considered as reliable key features of the implantation window. Moreover, organoids express glycodelin A (GdA), a cycle-dependent marker of the endometrial receptivity, with its quantitative and qualitative features accounting well for the profile detected in the endometrium in vivo. Accordingly, organoids deriving from the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis show a GdA glycosylation pattern significantly different from healthy organoids, confirming our prior data on endometrial tissues. The present results strongly support the idea that organoids may closely recapitulate the molecular and functional characteristics of their cells/tissue of origin.
PY - 2020
EP - 1121
ST - Organoids of Human Endometrium
T2 - Cells
TI - Organoids of Human Endometrium: A Powerful In Vitro Model for the Endometrium-Embryo Cross-Talk at the Implantation Site
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/9/5/1121
VL - 9
Y2 - 2026-06-03
SN - 2073-4409
ER -