Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, 150040, China.
Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2020 Aug;302(2):293-303. doi: 10.1007/s00404-020-05607-1. Epub 2020 Jun 17.
Autophagy exists widely in eukaryotic cells and is regulated by a variety of molecular mechanisms. Its physiological functions include providing energy, maintaining cell homeostasis, and promoting apoptosis of abnormal cells. At present, the regulation of autophagy in tumor, degenerative disease, and cardiovascular disease has attracted much attention. Gradually, the role of autophagy in pregnancy tends to be valued. The previous literature has shown that autophagy can influence the occurrence and maintenance of pregnancy from three aspects: embryo (affecting the process of fertilization and embryonic development and the function of trophoblast cells), maternal (decidualization), and maternal-to-fetal immune crosstalk. Undoubtedly, abnormalities in autophagy levels are associated with a variety of pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and preterm delivery which have been proven by human, animal, and in vitro experiments. The regulation of autophagy is expected to be a target for the treatment of these pregnancy complications. This article reviews the research on autophagy, especially about its physiological and pathological regulation during pregnancy.
自噬广泛存在于真核细胞中，并受多种分子机制调控。其生理功能包括提供能量、维持细胞内稳态以及促进异常细胞的凋亡。目前，自噬在肿瘤、退行性疾病和心血管疾病中的调控作用已引起广泛关注。逐渐地，自噬在妊娠中的作用也开始受到重视。既往文献表明，自噬可以从胚胎（影响受精和胚胎发育过程以及滋养细胞的功能）、母体（蜕膜化）和母胎免疫相互作用这三个方面影响妊娠的发生和维持。自噬水平的异常与多种妊娠并发症有关，如子痫前期、胎儿生长受限和早产，这已被人类、动物和体外实验所证实。自噬的调节有望成为这些妊娠并发症治疗的靶点。本文综述了自噬方面的研究进展，特别是其在妊娠期间的生理和病理调节。
