The level of MMP-1 is increased in the vasculature of preeclamptic women versus healthy pregnant women. A: Fold change in gene expression for MMP1, TIMP1, and COL1A1 in arteries dissected from omental fat from women with preeclampsia (PE) versus a healthy pregnancy (NP). Results are expressed as relative increases or decreases versus controls. Data are given as mean ± SEM (n = 6 different women per group). ***P < 0.001 for PE versus NP. B: Representative MMP-1 immunostaining of blood vessels in omental fat from women with an NP and those with PE. The large arrow on the left PE panel indicates smooth muscle cell staining; and small arrow on right PE panel, endothelial cell staining. Scale bars = 50 μm. C: Representative Western blots to assess the presence of MMP-1, TIMP-1, and COL1A1 in lysates of arteries dissected out of omental fat. D: Circulating levels of MMP-1 in healthy (n = 5) and preeclamptic (n = 6) women. **P < 0.01 for PE versus an NP. Percentage of active enzyme is shown in blue (2% for NP and 17% for PE). Data are given as mean ± SEM. C indicates IgG negative control staining of a preeclamptic patient.