Abnormal expression of Fas/FasL in placenta of pregnant women with preeclampsia and its significance

Objective To compare expression levels of Fas and FasL in placental tissues of pregnant women with preeclampsia and normal pregnant women to study relationship of expression of Fas/FasL system with preeclampsia.Methods Using immunohistochemistry method,location and intensity of Fas and FasL expressions in placental tissues of 30 normal pregnant women and 60 pregnant women with mild(30 cases) and severe(30 cases) preeclampsia.Results Fas and FasL were expressed mainly in cytoplasm and cytomembrane of villous trophoblast cells.Compared with that in the normal control group,expression intensity of Fas in trophoblast cells of pregnant women with severe preeclampsia was significantly increased(χ2=23.25,P0.05),while expression intensity of FasL in trophoblast cells of pregnant women with severe preeclampsia was significantly decreased(χ2=6.67,P0.05).Conclusion Alterations in Fas and FasL expression level are closely associated with preeclampsia.Abnormal expression of Fas and FasL in placenta destroys the mechanism of feto-placental immunologic tolerance,which may be one of important mechanisms in development of preeclampsia.