[Effects and mechanisms of trophoblast cells autophagy in preeclampsia].

Objective: To investigate the occurrence law of autophagy in trophoblast cells from preeclampsia and its underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Twenty cases of placenta tissues were collected from women suffered from preeclampsia and normal pregnant women respectively. Autophagosome of trophoblast cells were observed by transmission electron microscope. The expressions of LC3-II/I and Atg4B in placenta tissues were detected by western blot and real-time PCR.

Results: Compared with the control group, typical autophagosomes of trophoblast cells were observed by transmission electron microscope. The ratio of LC3-II/I in placenta of PE patients was increased (1.43 ± 0.23) compared with control group (0.59 ± 0.12), and the expression of Atg4B was up-regulated in both mRNA [(1.73 ± 0.16) folds] and protein levels (0.71 ± 0.13) compared with control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Autophagy was significantly up-regulated in trophoblast cells from patients suffered from preeclampsia. Thus, all the data suggest that autophagy might be involved in the generation of preeclampsia.