Immunohistochemical expression of MTA1 and MTA3 in placental tissue of normal and preeclamptic pregnancies.

PURPOSE: The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate and compare MTAI andMTA3 antigens expression in normal and preeclamptic placentas in order to demonstrate their possible functional relationship during pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series including 20 paraffin-embedded placentas, ten of which originated from normal patients and ten from preeclamptic patients, that were examined by immunohistochemistry using the polyclonal antibodies MTAI and MTA3.

RESULTS: The results of this study showed a positive nuclear staining reaction against MTAI and MTA3 in both normal and preeclamptic placentas. However, in preeclamptic chorionic villi, cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast cells demonstrated increased expression of MTAI and MTA3 than in normal ones.

CONCLUSION: The present observations indicate a potential role for MTAI and MTA3 for normal human placental function, playing an essential role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Nevertheless, the precise relationship between these antigens' expression and pathological pregnancies remains to be elucidated.