Figure 6.

Down-regulation of COMT is associated with up-regulation of HIF-1α, TGF-β3, and TIMP-2 in placentas of preeclampsia patients. Immunohistochemical analysis of villous COMT (A and B), HIF −1α (D and E), TGF-β3 (G and H), TIMP-2 (J and K), and nonvillous COMT (M and N) in placentas from patients with preeclampsia and normal pregnancy is shown. Brownish staining represents positive immunoreactivity. Each sample was analyzed by immunostaining intensity in six different areas (indicated as dot), scores were averaged, and statistical analyses were performed (C, F, I, L and O). Three normotensive control placentas and three severe cases of preeclamptic placentas were analyzed. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections are used in the analysis. *P < 0.05.