Up-regulated expression of Beclin-1 in missed abortion and its clinical significance / 医学研究生学报

ABSTRACT

Objective Reports are rarely seen on the role of autophagy in missed abortion. This study aimed to explore the association of missed abortion with autophagy by detecting the expressions of the autophagy-related factors Beclin-1 and LC3 in the villus and decidua of normal pregnancy and missed abortion women so as to provide some theoretical evidence for the early prevention of missed abortion.Methods We included in the experimental group 30 missed abortion patients treated in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, from January to March 2017 and enrolled another 30 normal pregnancy women as controls. We determined the expression level of Beclin-1 mRNA in the villus and decidua by quantitative fluorescence PCR and those of Beclin-1 and LC3II/LC3I proteins by Western blot. We also positioned Beclin-1 in the villus and decidua tissues of the two groups of women by immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with the normal pregnancy women, the patients with missed abortion showed significantly up-regulated expression of Beclin-1 mRNA in the villus (1.00±0.28 vs 2.17±0.87, P<0.05) and decidua (1.75±0.41 vs 4.74±0.93, P<0.05) and those of Beclin-1 and LC3II/LC3I proteins (P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry revealed markedly increased expression of the Beclin-1 protein in the villus and decidua of the missed abortion patients (P<0.05).Conclusion Beclin-1 mRNA, Beclin-1 protein and LC3II/LC3I are all up-regulated in the villus and decidua of missed abortion patients, suggesting the involvement of autophagy in the occurrence of missed abortion, which may provide a new theoretical basis for studying the pathogenesis of missed abortion.