Dr. Clémence Belleannée, Ph.D., is a researcher at the CHU Research Centre of Quebec-Laval University and Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction since 2014. After obtaining her doctorate at the Université François Rabelais de Tours in France, Dr. Belleannée completed two postdoctoral fellowships, one at Laval University and the other at Harvard Medical School / Massachussets General Hospital, where she received the 2009 Epithelial Transport Group Young Investigator award. Two of her publications have received a special mention from the Faculty of 1000 (F1000), for their application in Andrology.

Nowadays, one in ten couples face fertility problems, half of which are associated with male factors. The work done by Dr. Belleannée’s team focuses on the study of biological mechanisms that are at the origin of male infertility. This work aims to improve diagnosis and develop new therapeutic tools in the face of this major public health issue.

1- Decoding the intercellular signals that govern spermatic maturation

The epididymis is a long and unique tubule of the male reproductive system whose dysfunction causes problems in male fertility. During their transit in this organ, testicular spermatozoa will acquire their motility and capacity to recognize and fertilize an oocyte. In humans, this maturation process lasts 4 to 6 days, depending on the somatic cells of the epididymal epithelium. With these cells communicating in a well orchestrated manner, Dr. Belleannée’s laboratory studies the intercellular mechanisms governing spermatic maturation, in which the extracellular vesicles and their molecular cargo (microRNA) play a mediating role. NSERC Grant.

2- Identify the dynamics of epigenetic marks during sperm maturation

Since the first baby born through in vitro fertilization (IVF) in 1978, breakthroughs in assisted reproduction techniques have allowed infertile couples to access effective treatments. However, how these techniques relate to one another– more specifically intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) -, the epigenetic profile of male gametes, as well as the development and health of offspring, is still questioned. Our goal is to 1) define the epigenetic signature of spermatozoa collected at different stages of maturation (testicular vs. epididymal vs. ejaculated spermatozoa) and used in different contexts of infertility treatment, and 2) to evaluate, from murine models, the influence of this signature on the development of offspring. Our long-term goal is to develop strategies, in collaboration with fertility clinics, to limit the risks associated with techniques that are commonly used in fertility clinics. Sick Kids Foundation / CIHR Grant.

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43 entries « 1 of 5 »

Alves MBR, Girardet L, Augière C, Moon KH, Lavoie-Ouellet C, Bernet A, Soulet D, Calvo E, Teves ME, Beauparlant CJ, Droit A, Bastien A, Robert C, Bok J, Hinton BT, Belleannée C

Hedgehog signaling regulates Wolffian duct development through the primary cilium†

Journal Article

Biol Reprod, 108 (2), 2023.

Abstract | Links:

Belleannée C, Viana AGA, Lavoie-Ouellet C

Intra and intercellular signals governing sperm maturation

Journal Article

Reprod Fertil Dev, 35 (2), 2022.

Abstract | Links:

Girardet L, Cyr DG, Belleannée C

Arl13b controls basal cell stemness properties and Hedgehog signaling in the mouse epididymis

Journal Article

Cell Mol Life Sci, 79 (11), 2022.

Abstract | Links:

Vinay L, Belleannée C

EV duty vehicles: Features and functions of ciliary extracellular vesicles

Journal Article

Front Genet, 13 , 2022.

Abstract | Links:

Belardin LB, Légaré C, Sullivan R, Belleannée C, Breton S

Expression of the pro-inflammatory P2Y14 receptor in the non-vasectomized and vasectomized human epididymis

Journal Article

Andrology, 10 (8), 2022.

Abstract | Links:

Puhm F, Allaeys I, Lacasse E, Dubuc I, Galipeau Y, Zaid Y, Khalki L, Belleannée C, Durocher Y, Brisson AR, Wolberg AS, Langlois MA, Flamand L, Boilard E

Platelet activation by SARS-CoV-2 implicates the release of active tissue factor by infected cells

Journal Article

Blood Adv, 6 (12), 2022.

Abstract | Links:

Chen H, Scott-Boyer MP, Droit A, Robert C, Belleannée C

Sperm Heterogeneity Accounts for Sperm DNA Methylation Variations Observed in the Caput Epididymis, Independently From DNMT/TET Activities

Journal Article

Front Cell Dev Biol, 10 , 2022.

Abstract | Links:

Chen H, Alves MBR, Belleannée C

Contribution of epididymal epithelial cell functions to sperm epigenetic changes and the health of progeny

Journal Article

Hum Reprod Update, 28 (1), 2021.

Abstract | Links:

Melki I, Allaeys I, Tessandier N, Levesque T, Cloutier N, Laroche A, Vernoux N, Becker Y, Benk-Fortin H, Zufferey A, Rollet-Labelle E, Pouliot M, Poirier G, Patey N, Belleannee C, Soulet D, McKenzie SE, Brisson A, Tremblay ME, Lood C, Fortin PR, Boilard E

Platelets release mitochondrial antigens in systemic lupus erythematosus

Journal Article

Sci Transl Med, 13 (581), 2021.

Abstract | Links:

Plante-Dube M, Picard C, Gilbert I, Robert C, Fievez V, Vlaeminck B, Belleannee C, Gervais R, Chouinard PY

Effects of a dietary supplement enriched in palmitoleic acid on fatty acid composition of follicular fluid, granulosa cell metabolism, and oocyte developmental capacity in early lactation dairy cows

Journal Article

J Dairy Sci, 104 (3), 2021.

Abstract | Links:

43 entries « 1 of 5 »
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Active projects

  • Mechanisms of release and signaling functions of ciliary vesicles, from 2022-04-01 to 2027-03-31
  • P.R.I.A.P.E*: Programme de Recherche sur l'Infertilité mAsculine et Physiologie de l'Epididyme, from 2020-07-01 to 2024-06-30
  • Platelets and neutrophils: the two culprits mediating pain in inflammatory arthritis, from 2020-04-01 to 2025-03-31
  • Réseau Québécois en Reproduction (RQR), from 2017-04-01 to 2023-03-31
  • Unravelling the role of primary cilia in the control of male fertility, from 2018-10-01 to 2023-03-31

Recently finished projects

  • Computer-Aided Sperm Analysis (CASA) of sperm motility and hyperactivation, from 2021-04-01 to 2022-03-31
  • Deciphering extracellular microRNA communication system., from 2015-04-01 to 2022-03-31
  • Impact of environmental pollutants on epididymal primary cilia and consequences on the Hedgehog pathway - a prospective study, from 2020-02-01 to 2021-03-31
  • Impact of the sperm epigenome on the progeny outcome born by assisted reproductive technology, from 2016-07-01 to 2021-12-31
  • Platelets and neutrophils: the two culprits mediating pain in inflammatory arthritis, from 2020-01-01 to 2022-12-31
  • Rôle de la voie Hedgehod dans la fonction spermatique, from 2021-01-28 to 2021-12-31
  • Rôle novateur du récepteur pro-inflammtoire P2RY14 en reproduction masculine, from 2020-11-01 to 2022-04-30
Data provided by the Université Laval research projects registery