The communication of mitochondria-nuclear to fertilization determines the length of ICM telomeres. Credit: Nature communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038 / S41467-025-57794-7
Researchers from the University of Adélaide discovered that the first days of embryos development have a measurable impact on the future health and aging of a person.
Professor Rebecca Robker, chief discipline of reproduction and development within the biomicine research institute and Robinson of the University of Adelaide, a co-a team led a team that led a preclinical test and found that cellular processes within the egg at the time of fertilization determine the duration of the telomere in the spill.
“Telomeres are the parts of the chromosomes that influence the growth and rejuvenation of our tissues,” said Professor Robker.
“Some babies are born with shorter telomeres than others, increasing their lifetime risk of chronic diseases associated with aging.
“Like one example, shorter telomeres are observed in children of women with obesity or metabolic syndrome. As an adults, these individuals run an increased risk of premature mortality from cardiovascular events, such as a heart attack or a stroke, even when they are not themselves obese.
“Until now, it has not been clear how the length of the telomeres is determined before birth.”
The reduced length of the telomeres can be caused by embryonic cellular damage.
“There are specific types of cellular damage during the very first days of the development of the embryo which cause the defect in the embryo of the embryo, which makes them shorter at the time of birth,” said the co-directing Dr. Yasmyn Winstanley.
“The process is very sensitive to the signals of the mother’s body. Our results show maternal health And environmental conditions at the time of design can have long -term consequences and can even influence the sensitivity of offspring compared to resilience to diseases associated with aging in subsequent life.
“These results stress that the health of women and girls should be a major objective of public health policies.”
Professor Robker said research, which is published In Nature communications also found that it is possible to reverse cell damage and restore the length of the telomeres.
“We provide proof of concept that DNA reset can be modulated in embryos where it is deficient, using drugs currently available, to influence telomere length At birth, which is a major marker of aging for life, “said Professor Robker.
“Our identification of specific pharmaceutical compounds which can adjust telomeres during preconception and immediately after fertilization, means that there are therapeutic opportunities to optimize this biology, which is a key determinant of the risk of chronic disease.”
Researchers are now working with Vitaleon Pharma to develop these new results in therapies to Reproductive medicine and use by fertility specialists.
More information:
Yasmyn E. Winstanley et al, the length of the telomeres in offspring is determined by mitochondrial-nuclear communication to fertilization, Nature communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038 / S41467-025-57794-7
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