New Delhi: A groundbreaking study by the Indian Council of Medical Research has identified a “genetic switch” that enables an embryo to implant itself in the womb, a key step that initiates pregnancy. The discovery helps explain a biological process that has remained largely unknown until now.
The research, published in the international journal Cell Death Discovery, reveals how two genes—HOXA10 and TWIST2—work together to regulate the opening of a tiny gate on the uterine wall. This opening allows the embryo to attach and embed itself, leading to conception.
The study was led by scientists from ICMR-NIRRCH in Mumbai, Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, and the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru. The team combined molecular biology, genomics and mathematical modelling to decode the implantation process.
According to Dr Deepak Modi of ICMR-NIRRCH, the inner lining of the uterus functions like a fortified wall, normally closed off to prevent intrusion. For implantation to occur, a specific location on this wall must briefly open when the embryo arrives. Lead author Nancy Ashary explained that HOXA10 keeps this wall sealed under normal conditions. But once the embryo makes contact, HOXA10 switches off at that precise point, allowing TWIST2 to activate. TWIST2 then softens the uterine cells, creating space for the embryo to embed.
The researchers observed this HOXA10–TWIST2 mechanism in mice, hamsters, monkeys and human cells, suggesting it is an ancient biological process conserved across mammals. BHU scientist Dr Shruti Hansda said the finding highlights a universal reproductive system that evolution has preserved.
ICMR-NIRRCH Director Dr Geetanjali Sachdeva noted that understanding this switch could help explain why some women experience repeated implantation failures or early pregnancy losses despite having healthy embryos. She added that regulating the balance between the two genes could pave the way for future strategies to improve IVF success rates.
