Pre-eclampsia: a mistake of trophoblastic cells for tumour cells?

Pre-eclampsia is a severe form of hypertension induced by pregnancy. In pre-eclampsia, there is deficient trophoblast invasion of the spiral arteries terminating in the placental bed. Perhaps some abnormality occurs in the immunosuppressive process as the maternal immune system encounters paternal antigens expressed by immunosuppressive decidual cells. This immunosuppressive abnormality might cause the deficient trophoblast invasion. Abnormal placentation might then lead to maternal endothelial cell damage by an ongoing process. There might be a recurring sequence of 4 steps: (1) The placenta releases trophoblastic cells with potentially cytotoxic characteristics. These circulating trophoblastic cells have an abnormal pattern of expression of integrins and perhaps other glycoproteins or proteins. (2) The circulating trophoblastic cells loosely bind to maternal endothelial cells, targeting them for anti-tumourigenesis. (3) The maternal immune system reacts against targeted maternal endothelial cells through anti-tumourigenic mechanisms. (4) Widespread maternal endothelial damage causes the characteristic kidney lesion called glomerula endotheliosis.