Resveratrol inhibits autophagy in HTR-8/SVneo model by alleviating trophoblast oxidative stress

Background: The normal function of the placenta at each time stage of pregnancy is essential to a successful outcome. Placental dysfunction and increased oxidative stress and autophagy are the cause of a series of severe pregnancy complications. Resveratrol is a potent antioxidant that has shown beneficial effects in many diseases. We aim to investigate whether excessive autophagy is associated with oxidative stress in the trophoblast oxidative stress model. Resveratrol was taken to clarify its role in excessive autophagy of placental trophoblasts. Methods: We established an in vitro model of oxidative stress by exposing the human first-trimester extravillous trophoblast cell line HTR-8/SVneo to H 2 O 2 . Levels of autophagy-related proteins (LC3, Beclin-1, p53 and mTOR) were detected by western blot. Results: Treatment with resveratrol significantly ameliorated H 2 O 2 -induced cytotoxicity, morphological damage, oxidative stress and autophagy. Mechanistically, resveratrol restored the levels of autophagy-related proteins including LC3-II, Beclin-1 and p53, mTOR that were dysregulated by H 2 O 2 . Conclusions: Resveratrol may protect human trophoblasts against H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative stress by reducing excessive autophagy, thus ensuring the normal biological functions of trophoblasts.