Hugo Vankelecom

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-shortening genetic disorder, caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein that regulates ion and fluid transport in epithelial tissue. Female CF patients face considerable f…

BACKGROUND: Adenomyosis is a chronic gynecological disorder characterized by the invasion of endometrial tissues into the myometrium of the uterus, with pathophysiology linked to chronic inflammation and metabolic dysregulation. However, th…

Organoids have emerged as revolutionary biomimetic systems that offer a physiologically relevant in vitro model to study the specific tissue or organ of origin. In the field of female reproductive biology, endometrial organoids have proven …

STUDY QUESTION: Are we able to establish endometrium epithelial organoids (EEOs) from endometrial samples obtained from women with PCOS, and do they differ from non-PCOS EEOs? SUMMARY ANSWER: We were able to establish, for the first time, …

Enhancing the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for endometrial regeneration is challenging, due to its limited mechanical properties and burst release of growth factors. Here, we proposed an injectable interpenetrating dual-netwo…

Asherman's Syndrome is characterized by intrauterine adhesions or scarring, which cause infertility, menstrual abnormalities, and recurrent pregnancy loss. The pathophysiology of this syndrome remains unknown, with treatment restricted to r…

The uterus-lining endometrium is essential to mammalian reproduction, receiving and accommodating the embryo for proper development. Despite its key role, mechanisms underlying endometrial biology (menstrual cycling, embryo interaction) and…

ImportanceImplantation failure remains a critical barrier to in vitro fertilization. Prednisone, as an immune-regulatory agent, is widely used to improve the probability of implantation and pregnancy, although the evidence for efficacy is i…

BACKGROUND: Early embryo implantation is a complex phenomenon characterized by the presence of an implantation-competent blastocyst and a receptive endometrium. Embryo development and endometrial receptivity must be synchronized and an adeq…

In vitroculturing of endometrial cells obtained from the uterine mucosa or ectopic sites is used to study molecular and cellular signalling relevant to physiologic and pathologic reproductive conditions. However, the lack of consensus on st…

Endometriosis is a sex hormone-dependent, painful disease that affects 10-15% of women worldwide with no definitive cure, and current treatments are not always effective. This limitation is mainly due to gaps in our knowledge about the mech…

The endometrium, lining the uterine lumen, is highly essential for human reproduction. Its exceptional remodeling plasticity, including the transformation process to welcome and nest the embryo, is not well understood. Lack of representativ…

The maladies affecting the female reproductive tract (FRT) range from infections to endometriosis to carcinomas. In vitro models of the FRT play an increasingly important role in both basic and translational research, since the anatomy and …

The pelviperineal organs of the female reproductive tract form an essential cornerstone of human procreation. The system comprises the ectodermal external genitalia, the Müllerian upper-vaginal, cervical, endometrial and oviductal derivativ…

Abstract STUDY QUESTION What are the effects of plant-derived antioxidant compounds urolithin A (UA) and B (UB) on the growth and pathogenetic properties of an in vitro endometriosis model? SUMMARY ANSWER Both urolithins showed inhibitory e…

Successful pregnancy requires the establishment of a complex dialogue between the implanting embryo and the endometrium. Knowledge regarding molecular candidates involved in this early communication process is inadequate due to limited acce…

Endometrial disorders represent a major gynaecological burden. Current research models fail to recapitulate the nature and heterogeneity of these diseases, thereby hampering scientific and clinical progress. Here we developed long-term expa…

The endometrium, which is of crucial importance for reproduction, undergoes dynamic cyclic tissue remodeling. Knowledge of its molecular and cellular regulation is poor, primarily owing to a lack of study models. Here, we have established a…