Maternal serum of women with pre-eclampsia reduces trophoblast cell viability: evidence for an increased sensitivity to Fas-mediated apoptosis

Abstract

Serum from women with pre-eclampsia induces the cytotoxicity of a first-trimester trophoblast cell line (H8). This effect appears to be related to changes in trophoblast sensitivity to Fas-mediated apoptosis. These findings suggest that a factor present in the maternal blood of patients with pre-eclampsia may have a role in the genesis of the syndrome.