A5031656462- Reproductive Biology and Fertility
- Pluripotent Stem Cells Research
- Sperm and Testicular Function
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Renal and related cancers
- Ovarian function and disorders
- Prenatal Screening and Diagnostics
- Metabolism and Genetic Disorders
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Plant Reproductive Biology
- Animal Genetics and Reproduction
- Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ
- Biomedical Ethics and Regulation
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
2023-2024
Ghent University Hospital
2018-2023
Cardiff University
2015-2017
Our understanding of the molecular events driving cell specification in early mammalian development relies mainly on mouse studies, and it remains unclear whether these mechanisms are conserved across mammals, including humans. We have shown that establishment polarity via aPKC is a event initiation trophectoderm (TE) placental programme mouse, cow human embryos. However, transducing into fate embryos unknown. Here, we examined evolutionary conservation Hippo signalling, which thought to...
Abstract STUDY QUESTION What is the role of transcriptional-enhanced associate (TEA) domain family member 4 (TEAD4) in trophectoderm (TE) differentiation during human embryo preimplantation development comparison to mouse? SUMMARY ANSWER TEAD4 regulates TE lineage acting upstream caudal-type homeobox protein 2 (CDX2), but contrast mouse a GATA-binding 3 (GATA3)-independent manner. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Tead4 one earliest transcription factors expressed and required for expression...
Is it possible to improve clinical visualization of phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ) as a diagnostic marker sperm oocyte activation capacity and male fertility? Poor PLCζ efficacy using current protocols may be due steric or conformational occlusion native PLCζ, hindering antibody access, is significantly enhanced antigen unmasking/retrieval (AUM) protocols. Mammalian mediated via series intracellular calcium (Ca2+) oscillations induced by sperm-specific PLCζ. represents not only potential...
Sperm-specific phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ) is widely considered to be the physiological stimulus that evokes intracellular calcium (Ca2+) oscillations are essential for initiation of egg activation during mammalian fertilisation. A recent genetic study reported a male infertility case was directly associated with point mutation in PLCζ C2 domain, where an isoleucine residue had been substituted phenylalanine (I489F). Here, we have analysed effect this on vivo Ca2+ oscillation-inducing...
Can pronuclear transfer (PNT) or maternal spindle (ST) be applied to overcome poor embryo development associated with advanced age early arrest in a mouse model?Both PNT and ST may have the potential restore embryonic developmental model of reproductive ageing arrest.Germline nuclear (NT) techniques, such as ST, are currently being humans prevent transmission mitochondrial diseases. Yet, there is also growing interest translational use NT for treating infertility improving IVF outcomes....
What is the role of POU class 5 homeobox 1 (POU5F1) in human preimplantation development and how does it compare with mouse model?POU5F1 required for successful embryos to blastocyst stage as knockout exhibited a significantly lower formation rate, accompanied by lack inner cell mass (ICM) formation.Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR associated genes (CRISPR-Cas9) has previously been used examine POU5F1 during development. The reported POU5F1-targeted...
Prevention of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diseases may currently be possible using germline nuclear transfer (NT). However, scientific evidence to compare efficiency different NT techniques overcome mtDNA is lacking. Here, we performed four types NT, including first or second polar body (PB1/2T), maternal spindle (ST) and pronuclear (PNT), NZB/OlaHsd B6D2F1 mouse models. Embryo development was assessed following carry-over levels were measured by next generation sequencing (NGS). Moreover,...
The derivation of gametes from patient-specific pluripotent stem cells may provide new perspectives for genetic parenthood patients currently facing sterility. We use current data to assess the gamete differentiation potential and determine which reprogramming strategy holds greatest promise future clinical applications. First, we compare two best established somatic cell strategies: production induced (iPSC) nuclear transfer followed by embryonic (SCNT-ESC). Recent reports have indicated...
Abstract Study question What is the role of canonical Hippo signalling pathway during first lineage segregation in human preimplantation embryo? Summary answer Canonical regulates by controlling expression trophectoderm (TE) and inner cell mass (ICM) associated genes. known already The a conserved regulatory network that plays critical mouse, rat, bovine embryos. This consists two distinct branches (canonical, non-canonical). Despite their shared segregation, respective functions...
Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences on reproductive biology and medicine ISSN 2052-1472 (online)
Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences on reproductive biology and medicine ISSN 2052-1472 (online)
Abstract Study question What is the main pathway regulating trophectoderm (TE) differentiation during pre-implantation development in mouse versus human embryos? Summary answer TEAD4 acting upstream of CDX2 and involved TE differentiation, as TEAD4-null embryos exhibit compromised lineage differentiation. known already earliest transcription factor early embryo development, required for expression TE-associated genes leading to successful subsequent blastocoel formation mouse. Functional...