Autophagy in reproduction and pregnancy-associated diseases
Asmita Singh,
Maira L. Perez,
Oleksandr Kirsanov,
Elizabeth Padilla-Banks,
Carlos M. Guardia
Affiliations
Asmita Singh
Placental Cell Biology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
Maira L. Perez
Placental Cell Biology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
Oleksandr Kirsanov
Placental Cell Biology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
Elizabeth Padilla-Banks
Placental Cell Biology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
Carlos M. Guardia
Placental Cell Biology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA; Corresponding author
Summary: As advantageous as sexual reproduction is during progeny generation, it is also an expensive and treacherous reproductive strategy. The viviparous eukaryote has evolved to survive stress before, during, and after pregnancy. An important and conserved intracellular pathway for the control of metabolic stress is autophagy. The autophagy process occurs in multiple stages through the coordinated action of autophagy-related genes. This review summarizes the evidence that autophagy is an integral component of reproduction. Additionally, we discuss emerging in vitro techniques that will enable cellular and molecular studies of autophagy and its associated pathways in reproduction. Finally, we discuss the role of autophagy in the pathogenesis and progression of several pregnancy-related disorders such as preterm birth, preeclampsia, and intra-uterine growth restriction, and its potential as a therapeutic target.
