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The influence of oxidative stress and autophagy cross regulation on pregnancy outcome

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Cell Stress and Chaperones Aims and scope

Abstract

The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), a byproduct of aerobic energy metabolism, is maintained at physiological levels by the activity of antioxidant components. Insufficiently opposed ROS results in oxidative stress characterized by altered mitochondrial function, decreased protein activity, damage to nucleic acids, and induction of apoptosis. Elevated levels of inadequately opposed ROS induce autophagy, a major intracellular pathway that sequesters and removes damaged macromolecules and organelles. In early pregnancy, autophagy induction preserves trophoblast function in the low oxygen and nutrient placental environment. Inadequate regulation of the ROS-autophagy axis leads to abnormal autophagy activity and contributes to the development of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. ROS-autophagy interactions are altered at the end of gestation and participate in the initiation of parturition at term. The induction of high levels of ROS coupled with a failure to induce a corresponding increase in autophagy results in the triggering of preterm labor and delivery.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University—UNESP, Distrito de Rubião Júnior, 18618-970, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil

    Bruna Ribeiro de Andrade Ramos & Steven S. Witkin

  2. Division of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    Bruna Ribeiro de Andrade Ramos & Steven S. Witkin

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  1. Bruna Ribeiro de Andrade Ramos
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Correspondence to Bruna Ribeiro de Andrade Ramos.

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de Andrade Ramos, B.R., Witkin, S.S. The influence of oxidative stress and autophagy cross regulation on pregnancy outcome. Cell Stress and Chaperones 21, 755–762 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12192-016-0715-3

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