Abstract: Autophagy plays a key role in the development of human placenta. But the biological significance of autophagy is still not clear. One possible role of autophagy is to protect trophoblasts from apoptosis induced by hypoxia or nutritional deprivation. The human placenta is hemochorial and maternal blood contact directly with chorion. Therefore, the villous trophoblasts are easily exposed to stress status caused by variable maternal blood flow. In pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia and fetal growth retardation, the pathway of autophagy is activated to maintain cellular homeostasis allowing trophoblast cells to survive under shortage of oxygen and glucose. Autophagy is involved in development of the human placenta and placenta-related diseases, and changes in oxygen and glucose levels participate in regulation of autophagic changes in cytotrophoblast cells.

Key words: Autophagy, Apoptosis, Placenta, Pre-eclampsia, Fetal growth retardation