Chorionic plate expression patterns of the maspin tumor suppressor protein in preeclamptic and egg donor placentas

Maspin is a serine protease inhibitor involved in regulating human placental trophoblast cell migration. Maspin has not been studied in preeclampsia (PE) or relative to the maternal–fetal immunological relationship, both of which may involve altered trophoblast migration. We examined maspin expression in placentas from in vitro fertilization (IVF) and egg donor (ED) pregnancies with and without PE. Exclusive to the chorionic plate, the number of maspin-positive extravillous trophoblasts was significantly decreased in IVF-PE vs. IVF (p = 0.005) and ED vs. IVF (p = 0.013). These data suggest maspin expression may be influenced by PE and/or the immunological dynamics of pregnancy.