WIPI-2 protein expression increases in the placentas of patients with preeclampsia

Objective: This study aimed to investigate WD-repeat protein interacting with phosphoinositides-2 (WIPI-2) protein expression in the placentas of preeclamptic patients by immunohistochemical method. Methods: Placentas of 25 healthy normotensive women and 25 women with preeclampsia were enrolled in this study. Placental samples were fixed in zinc-formalin and further processed for paraffin wax tissue embedding. Demographic and laboratory parameters of patients were recor-ded. WIPI-2 immune activity was analyzed in the placental section with immunohistochemistry. Results: There was a high number of placental lesions such as vascular congestion, fibrinoid accumulation, hemorrhage, and villous degene-ration in preeclamptic placentas compared to normotensive placentas. WIPI-2 immune reaction was significantly increased in preeclamptic placentas when compared to normotensive placentas. WIPI-2 expression was predominantly observed in the placental villi. Conclusion: Autophagy is a process that occurs in normal placentation. However, dysfunction in the autophagic mechanism is observed in the placentas of preeclamptic patients and WIPI-2 expression could be used to show autophagy. © 2023 Perinatal Medicine Foundation.