Abstract
Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved catabolic process whereby damaged organelles, misfolded proteins, and lipid droplets are sequestered, degraded, and recycled. Definitive etiological links connect dysregulated autophagy to chronic cardiometabolic, neurodegenerative, and inflammatory diseases, along with cancer. Autophagy also fulfills key roles in normal reproduction and fertility, with placental autophagy being crucial for proper trophoblast syncytialization. Dysregulations in placental autophagy have been shown to occur in response to maternal under- and overnutrition, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia. This review summarizes the roles of autophagy in placental function in both healthy and complicated pregnancies.