Physical Wellness

How To Prevent A Miscarriage: Protein Can Help Stop Heartbreaking Loss, Say Scientists

By George Houston | Update Date: May 16, 2016 07:21 AM EDT

A recent study on protein by scientists may possible help in the future prevention of recurring miscarriages along with pre-eclampsia as discovered by scientists from the U.K. The study led by Professor Harry Moore, Co-Director for the University of Sheffield's Centre for Stem Cell Biology have exposed how embryo proteins stick to the womb in the first week of life, according to Medical Xpress.

Syncytin-1 was identified in the research as the main protein which is being produced on the exterior of the emergent embryo prior to it being fixed to the mother's womb.

"Recurrent miscarriages, foetal growth restriction syndrome and pre-eclampsia are all significant and very stressful complications of pregnancy. Eventually we may be able to develop blood tests based on our results to identify pregnancies that might be at risk and also develop appropriate therapies.There is a lot of the news about the Zika virus infection at the moment and its devastating effects on foetal development but all viral infections are necessarily as disastrous," Moore explained.

The study brought to light that not all viral infections are disastrous as Syncytin-1 was the result of a viral infection of our primate ancestors 25 million years ago as in due course modern medicine will be able to develop blood tests that will make out pregnancies that are at risk thus will be given apt treatments.

"The viral DNA got into our ancestors genome and was passed on through heredity and the gene involved in the fusion of the virus with cells for infection was co-opted and became Syncytin-1. Without it humans probably would not have evolved," Moore further expounded on the protein's importance.  

The scientists however admitted that it was not until recently that they discovered that the protein was found in such an early stage for the embro.

As of now, the scientists will continue to look into the relation of the level of Syncytin-1 secretion on the pre-implantation embryo to the result of pregnancy in women undergoing IVF.

The study was first announced in the journal Human Reproduction.

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