Abstract:Objective To detect the expression levels of adherens junction proteins ［vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) and β-catenin］in placental vascular endothelial cells of patients with preeclampsia to provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods Ninety females with hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy(HDCP)were selected as study subjects,who were treated in Huaihai Hospital from March 2017 to October 2018 and divided into HDCP group,mild preeclampsia group and severe preeclampsia group(n=30,each).At the same period,30 normal pregnant women were served as control group.The changes of density and diameter of placental villi vessels and the position of VE-cadherin were detected by immunofluorescence method.The protein and mRNA expressions of VE-cadherin and β-catenin were respectively detected by Western blot and RT-PCR. Results Compared with control group,the density and diameter of villi vessels changed in HDCP group,but there was no statistical difference between two groups (P>0.05).Among four groups,the density of villi vessels was the lowest and the diameter of villi vessels was the longest in severe preeclampsia group(P<0.01).The immunofluorescence showed that VE-cadherin protein was transferred from cell membrane to intracellular according to the order of control group→HDCP group→mild preeclampsia group→severe preeclampsia group.Western blot and qRT-PCR showed that the expression of VE-cadherin and β-catenin protein and mRNA decreased gradually according to the order of control group→HDCP group→mild preeclampsia group→severe preeclampsia group,and their decreasing range was severe preeclampsia group >mild preeclampsia group>HDCP group and control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.01). Conclusion In preeclampsia,the density of intraplacental villi vessels decreased,and its diameter increased,which may be related to the inward shift of VE-cadherin and the decreased expression of VE-cadherin and β-catenin.