ACE2, an enzyme crucial for regulating blood pressure and fluid levels, plays an essential role in maintaining a healthy pregnancy.

A new study has revealed that altering the ACE2 gene significantly impacts placental growth, as demonstrated in lab-grown placental models.

Research published in early February 2025 in the journal Cell Death and Disease shows that knocking out or modifying the ACE2 gene results in smaller and asymmetrical placental organoids.

The study found that organoids lacking ACE2 or with the edited gene exhibited slower growth and less symmetry, indicating a disrupted balance of key proteins necessary for proper development.

This research marks the first exploration of gene editing in human placental organoids, paving the way for further investigations into pregnancy disorders.

The findings suggest that an imbalance between ACE2 and its counterpart ACE can lead to serious complications in pregnancy, including poor placental development.

Anya Arthurs, a co-author of the study, noted that specific variants of the ACE2 gene can increase the likelihood of having small-for-gestational-age babies by 23 times.

Previous studies have linked variations of the ACE2 gene to pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and issues with fetal growth.

Future research could focus on understanding the mechanisms behind other complications, such as gestational hypertension, to develop targeted therapies.