Modelling Endometriosis Using In Vitro and In Vivo Systems

Black, Verity; Bafligil, Cemsel; Greaves, Erin; Zondervan, Krina T.; Becker, Christian M.; Hellner, Karin

doi:10.3390/ijms26020580

Open AccessReview

Modelling Endometriosis Using In Vitro and In Vivo Systems

by

Verity Black

^1,†,

Cemsel Bafligil

^2,†

,

Erin Greaves

³,

Krina T. Zondervan

^1,4

,

Christian M. Becker

¹ and

Karin Hellner

^1,*

¹

Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Women’s Centre, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK

²

Botnar Research Centre, NIHR Biomedical Research Unit Oxford, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LD, UK

³

Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK

⁴

Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(2), 580; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26020580

Submission received: 4 December 2024 / Revised: 3 January 2025 / Accepted: 9 January 2025 / Published: 11 January 2025

(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Biology)

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Abstract

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition characterised by the presence of endometrium-like tissue outside the uterus. Despite its high prevalence and recent advances in molecular science, many aspects of endometriosis and its pathophysiology are still poorly understood. Previously, in vitro and in vivo modelling have been instrumental in establishing our current understanding of endometriosis. As the field of molecular science and the advance towards personalised medicine is ever increasing, more sophisticated models are continually being developed. These hold great potential to provide more intricate knowledge of the underlying pathophysiology and facilitate investigations into potential future approaches to diagnosis and treatment. This review provides an overview of different in vitro and in vivo models of endometriosis that are pertinent to establishing our current understanding. Moreover, we discuss new cross-cutting approaches to endometriosis modelling, such as the use of microfluidic cultures and 3D printing, which have the potential to shape the future of endometriosis research.

Keywords: endometriosis; model; in vitro; in vivo; animals; endometrium; tissue culture

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MDPI and ACS Style

Black, V.; Bafligil, C.; Greaves, E.; Zondervan, K.T.; Becker, C.M.; Hellner, K. Modelling Endometriosis Using In Vitro and In Vivo Systems. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 580. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26020580

AMA Style

Black V, Bafligil C, Greaves E, Zondervan KT, Becker CM, Hellner K. Modelling Endometriosis Using In Vitro and In Vivo Systems. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025; 26(2):580. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26020580

Chicago/Turabian Style

Black, Verity, Cemsel Bafligil, Erin Greaves, Krina T. Zondervan, Christian M. Becker, and Karin Hellner. 2025. "Modelling Endometriosis Using In Vitro and In Vivo Systems" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26, no. 2: 580. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26020580

APA Style

Black, V., Bafligil, C., Greaves, E., Zondervan, K. T., Becker, C. M., & Hellner, K. (2025). Modelling Endometriosis Using In Vitro and In Vivo Systems. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(2), 580. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26020580

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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Modelling Endometriosis Using In Vitro and In Vivo Systems

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