title: Autophagy-related proteins, LC3 and Beclin-1, in placentas from pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia.
abstract: The objective of this study is to investigate the expression of autophagy-related proteins (LC3 and beclin-1) in human placentas and the changes they undergo in the placentas from pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia (PE) and to explore the regulatory mechanisms of these proteins in JEG-3 cells in response to hypoxia or cytokine treatment.The presence of autophagosomes was confirmed with electron microscopy and the expression of LC3 and beclin-1 by immunoimaging methods in human placental trophoblasts. Compared with the placentas from normal pregnancies, the expression of LC3-II protein, but not beclin-1, was increased in the placentas from severe PE. In JEG-3 cells, hypoxia (O(2) < 1%) induced a modest but not significant increase in the expression of LC3-II with a significant decrease in the expression of beclin-1. Meanwhile, TNF-alpha treatment induced a significant increase in the expression of LC3-II without a significant change in the expression of beclin-1. Our data suggests that increased autophagic activity in the placenta may be implicated in the pathophysiology of PE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Soo-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Suk-Joo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kyung Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun Yoon
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jong-Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Cheong-Rae
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Roh
mesh_terms: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D001343:Autophagy / Q000502:physiology*; D000071186:Beclin-1; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C491997:BECN1 protein, human; D000071186:Beclin-1; D016207:Cytokines; C477012:MAP1LC3A protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger