Lucas ES

Recent advances in the development of stem-cell-based embryo models and endometrial assembloids have fuelled understanding of their respective biology. However, a faithful combined approach is required to truly advance our understanding of …

Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) is defined after three or more good quality embryo transfers following in vitro fertilisation without a successful pregnancy outcome. Many factors contribute to RIF however, the endometrial contribution …

The human luteinising hormone choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) is a G-protein coupled receptor activated by both human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and luteinizing hormone (LH), two structurally related gonadotropins with essential roles…

Despite advances in assisted reproductive techniques in the 4 decades since the first human birth after in vitro fertilisation, 1-2% of couples experience recurrent implantation failure, and some will never achieve a successful pregnancy ev…

Spontaneous decidualization of the endometrium in response to progesterone signaling is confined to menstruating species, including humans and other higher primates. During this process, endometrial stromal cells (EnSCs) differentiate into …

Decidualization denotes the transformation of endometrial stromal cells into specialized decidual cells. In pregnancy, decidual cells form a protective matrix around the implanting embryo, enabling coordinated trophoblast invasion and forma…

Implantation requires coordinated interactions between the conceptus and surrounding decidual cells, but the involvement of clock genes in this process is incompletely understood. Circadian oscillations are predicated on transcriptional-tra…

BackgroundDecidualizing human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) profoundly up-regulate 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11βHSD1), the enzyme that converts inert cortisone to active cortisol. We postulated that the induction of a cor…