Scientists have figured out the underlying causes of placental abnormalities

abnormal formation and growth of the placenta is considered a potential cause of various pregnancy complications such as miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, and restricted fetal growth. However, there is still much to be learned about regulating the molecular mechanisms of the organ. Researchers at the University of South Florida have figured out how a non-protein-encoded gene regulates endotring-interstational transformation (EMT), a process that helps placental implants early in pregnancy and the progression and spread of cancer.
researchers used CRISPR genome editing techniques to activate all tiny RNA clusters (C19MC) of chromosome 19 to study the gene's function in the early stages of pregnancy. C19MC is one of the largest clusters of tiny RNA genes in the human genome, usually closed and expressed only in placentas, embryonic stem cells and certain cancers.
in a recent study of cell models published in Scientific Reports, researchers say the strong activation of C19MC inhibits EMT. They found that when placental-forming nourishing layer cells were exposed to hypoxia, the expression of C19MC decreased significantly. The loss of C19MC's function releases nourishing cells, which differentiate from stem cell-like endocystic cells to interstity cells, which can migrate and invade like metastasis tumors.Hana Totary-Jain, senior author of the
article, said: "Our study shows that C19MC plays a key role in the regulation of many genes that play an important role in early embryo implantation, placental development and function, and that the regulation of these genes is critical to the normal growth of the fetus. Experts
the study could help better understand and control pre-eclampsia and fetal growth, which account for 5 to 10 percent of all pregnancy complications and premature births. Moreover, it makes sense for cancer and stem cell research to understand the effects of C19MC changes on cell differentiation and nourishing cell invasion. (Source: Lu Yi, China Science Journal)
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