Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2020; 80(10): e151
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1718014
Poster
Mittwoch, 7.10.2020
Pränatal- und Geburtsmedizin IV

Placental autophagy: Emerging pathway in preeclampsia

J Stepan
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Österreich
2   Research Group Neurohomeostasis, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Bonn, Deutschland
,
T Bajaj
2   Research Group Neurohomeostasis, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Bonn, Deutschland
,
D Gharehbaghi
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Österreich
,
H Jaksch-Bogensperger
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Österreich
,
N Gassen
2   Research Group Neurohomeostasis, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, Bonn, Deutschland
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Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy that is associated with significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, but the precise pathogenesis remains largely unknown. Altered placental glucocorticoid signalling and subsequent modulation of autophagic pathways have been implicated as an underlying mechanism. Here, we show in placentas of preeclamptic women (n = 15; control, n = 5), increased protein levels of the autophagic initiator Beclin1 and subsequently enhanced autophagic initiation, signalling and protein quality control. Next, we show in placental tissue, that the stress- related protein FKBP51, that regulates the signal transduction of steroid hormone receptors, scaffolds a protein network that also contains Beclin1. This potentially autophagy regulating complex can be targeted by small molecule ligands. Taken together, these results provide a stress-related form of placental autophagy, and suggest a novel therapeutic target for preeclampsia.



Publication History

Article published online:
07 October 2020

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