Indian scientists uncover 'genetic switch' that leads to pregnancy

A study by the Indian Council of Medical Research seeking to explain how a pregnancy is initiated has led to the discovery of a genetic switch that allows an embryo to implant itself on the wall of the womb leading to conceptionFor a pregnancy to begin the embryo must first attach and embed itself in the wall of the mothers womb But how this happens has remained a mysteryThe findings published in the international journal Cell Death Discovery revealed a fundamental biological switch that controls embryo implantationThe study was a collaboration between the Indian Council of Medical ResearchNational Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health ICMRNIRRCH Mumbai Banaras Hindu University BHU Varanasi and the Indian Institute of Science IISc Bengaluru and brought together experts in molecular biology genomics and mathematical modellingIt showed that two genes HOXA10 and TWIST2 work to open or close a small gate on the wall of the womb at the right time said Dr Deepak Modi ICMRNIRRCH scientist and corresponding author of the studyThe inner lining of the uterus is like the wall of a fort strong protective and normally closed to prevent anything from enteringFor the implantation to succeed this wall must briefly open a small gate at the exact spot where the embryo arrives explained Nancy Ashary the lead author of the studyThe study discovered that the gene HOXA10 keeps the wall closed and guardedBut when an embryo comes in contact with the lining HOXA10 temporarily switches off at that location This short switchoff allows another gene TWIST2 to act The activation of TWIST2 opens the gate by making the uterine cells soft and flexible allowing them to move slightly and let the embryo in said Dr Mohit Jolly of IISc BengaluruThis process was studied in mice hamsters monkeys and human cells and found that this HOXA10TWIST2 switch occurs across speciesThis suggests that it is an ancient and essential biological mechanism that nature has conserved during evolution and is essential for reproduction in mammals Dr Shruti Hansda of BHU underlinedUnderstanding this biological switch will explain why some women face repeated implantation failures or very early pregnancy loss even with healthy embryos said Dr Geetanjali Sachdeva Director of ICMRNIRRCHIf the uterine wall opens too little the embryo cannot implant if it opens too much the pregnancy cannot be sustained Controlling the balance between HOXA10 and TWIST2 could guide new strategies to improve IVF in vitro fertilisation success rates in future Dr Sachdeva saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever