Can a single missing gene lead to miscarriage?

"A single gene of the mother plays such a crucial role in the development of the placenta that its dysfunction leads to miscarriages. Researchers from the Medical Faculty of Ruhr-Universit?t Bochum (RUB) have observed this in so-called knockout mice that were specifically modified for this purpose.

These mice lack the gene for the transcription factor Math6. By conducting further analyses, the research team is now hoping to gain new insights into the role the gene plays in recurrent miscarriage in humans. The researchers headed by Professor Beate Brand-Saberi published their results in the journal Scientific Reports on 9 October 2018.

Embryos die due to placenta problems

Transcription factors regulate the expression of downstream genes. Math6 plays a significant role in a number of organs during prenatal development as well as in the adult organism. The knockout mice generated at RUB lack the gene for the transcription factor Math6. “Considering the consequences caused by the lacking gene, conclusions can be drawn regarding its function,” explains Beate Brand-Saberi, Head of the Department of Anatomy and Embryology.

She and her team successfully demonstrated that – contrary to previous assumptions – embryonic development is not disrupted when Math6 is switched off. “However, embryos and foetuses die due to placenta problems,” says the researcher. The development of the placenta, which is made up from maternal and foetal tissue, is vital for supplying the embryos resp. foetuses with nutrients during pregnancy..." | Learn More >>