Fig. 8

Schematic roles of trophoblasts autophagy on dNK cytotoxicity and trophoblast invasion in early pregnancy. Autophagy in trophoblast cell is decreased in RSA patients. On the one hand, low level of autophagy in trophoblast leads to the increase of IGF-2 secretion, which further leads to the high killing activity of NK cells attacking the normal cells; on the other hand, autophagy suppression of trophoblast cells decreases the PEG10, which reduces the invasion of trophoblasts. In addition, dNK cells educated by trophoblasts can affect the behavior of trophoblasts in return. Autophagy depression in trophoblast suppresses the effect of dNK cells on promoting proliferation and invasion. As a result, the impairment of autophagy in trophoblast may leads to recurrent spontaneous abortion