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Maternal obesity reduces placental autophagy marker expression in uncomplicated pregnancies
Author(s) -
Cohen Matthew,
Guo Emily,
Pucchio Aidan,
Vrijer Barbra,
Shepherd Trevor G.,
Eastabrook Genevieve
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1447-0756
pISSN - 1341-8076
DOI - 10.1111/jog.14315
Subject(s) - autophagy , placenta , medicine , body mass index , pregnancy , fetus , obesity , andrology , endocrinology , obstetrics , biology , apoptosis , biochemistry , genetics
Aim Obesity has been associated with changes in autophagy and its increasing prevalence among pregnant women is implicated in higher rates of placental‐mediated complications of pregnancy such as pre‐eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. Autophagy is involved in normal placentation, thus changes in autophagy may lead to impaired placental function and development. The aim of this study was to investigate the connection between obesity and autophagy in the placenta in otherwise uncomplicated pregnancies. Methods Immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis were done on placental and omental samples from obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m 2 ) and normal weight (BMI <25 kg/m 2 ) pregnant women with singleton pregnancies undergoing planned Caesarean delivery without labor at term. Samples were analyzed for autophagic markers LC3B and p62 in the peripheral, middle and central regions of the placenta and in omental adipocytes, milky spots and vasculature. Results As pre‐pregnancy BMI increased, there was an increase in both placental and fetal weight as well as decreased levels of LC3B in the central region of the placenta ( P = 0.0046). Within the obese patient group, LC3B levels were significantly decreased in the placentas of male fetuses compared to females ( P < 0.0001). Adipocytes, compared to milky spots and vasculature, had lower levels of p62 ( P = 0.0127) and LC3B ( P = 0.003) in obese omenta and lower levels of LC3B in control omenta ( P = 0.0071). Conclusion Obesity leads to reduced placental autophagy in uncomplicated pregnancies; thus, changes in autophagy may be involved in the underlying mechanisms of obesity‐related placental diseases of pregnancy.