细胞自噬与妊娠

细胞自噬是一种重要的生命现象，具有广泛的生理功能。细胞自噬的基本功能是对饥饿的适应，可使细胞在饥饿条件下生存，因此是一种促细胞生存机制。细胞自噬还有助于细胞稳态的维持。最近研究证明细胞自噬与妊娠密切相关。正常妊娠早期存在细胞自噬，其可保护滋养细胞生存，并可参与滋养细胞的分化、发育、侵入和母体螺旋动脉重铸的过程。妊娠中晚期也存在细胞自噬，其可促进胎盘发育，维持妊娠。细胞自噬也与病理妊娠有关：细胞自噬异常与子痫前期密切相关；细胞自噬增强参与胎儿生长受限的发病过程；细胞自噬降低与早产密切相关。

Autophagy and Pregnancy

Autophagy is an important life phenomenon with extensive physiological functions. The fundamental function of autophagy is the adaption to starvation, in which cells can survive in the condition of starvation. Therefore, autophagy is a promotion mechanism of cell survival. Autophagy can also contribute to maintaining the homeostasis of cells. Recently, it is revealed that autophagy is related to pregnancy. The autophagy in normal early pregnancy can protect the trophoblast survival, and participate in the regulation of trophoblast differentiation, development, invasion and remodeling of maternal spiral arteries. Autophagy also exists in the second and third trimester of pregnancy, which can promote placental development and sustain pregnancy. Additionally, autophagy is implicated in abnormal pregnancies, such as the preeclampsia related to aberrant autophagy, the fetal growth retardation involved in the enhanced autophagy, and the preterm birth related to the decreased autophagy.