Expression of tumor necrosis factor-α in placenta in preeclampsia and its significance

Objective: To investigate the placental tumor necrosis factor-a(TNF-αmRNA) in normal pregnancies and patients with preeclampsia and to study its clinical significance.Methods: RT-PCR was used to measure levels of placental TNF-α in 45 normal late pregnant women and 56 patients with preeclampsia(21 mild preeclampsia,35 severe preeclampsia).Results: 1.The levels of TNF-α mRNA of placenta in mild and severe preeclampsia were 0.371±0.12 and 0.892±0.347 respectively.They were all more obviously significant than those in the normal pregnant group 0.138±0.092(P0.01).There was more obvious significance in mild preeclampsia than severe preeclampsia(P0.01).2.TNF-α mRNA levels of placenta in preeclampsia were obviously correlated with the levels of SBP,DBP,MAP,proteinuria,the weight of newborn and placenta weight.Conclusion: 1.The results suggest that the levels of TNF-α mRNA in placenta are all gradually increased in preeclampsia,which is not changed in pregnant hypertension.2.The levels of TNF-α mRNA of placenta are obviously correlated with devepement of fetus.