Autophagy in the placenta of women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.

Autophagy has not been studied extensively in the human placenta. This study was performed to determine whether autophagy is increased in the placentas of women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy compared to normotensive pregnancies. LC3-II and p62 protein expression were examined by quantitative Western blotting analysis in 40 placentas from women not experiencing labor pains. The 40 placentas were from 13, 8, and 19 women with preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and normal pregnancy, respectively. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy included preeclampsia and gestational hypertension. LC3-II expression was significantly increased, while that of p62 was significantly reduced in 21 placentas of women with hypertensive disorders compared to those with normal blood pressure irrespective of the presence or absence of fetal growth restriction (FGR). LC3-II expression was also significantly increased in 13 placentas of women with preeclampsia irrespective of the presence or absence of FGR. The results of this study suggested that autophagy is active in the placenta of hypertensive disorders even in the absence of FGR.