Abstract: Preeclampsia，a major cause of maternal mortality in developing world， holds a central public health concern，is a peculiar disease during pregnancy . Studies have shown that preeclampsia is closely related to the cell apoptosis, vasospasm, activation of blood coagulation system, inflammatory reaction and so on. Its pathological change began in the shallow placenta implantation and placental vascular recasting barriers, lead to the placenta tissue ischemia hypoxia, cause endothelial cell damage. HtrA is one of serine protease family, under stress conditions such as cells to heat shock, oxidative stress, inflammation, ischemia-reperfusion and cancer, degradation of misfolded proteins in the cell cytoplasm, participate in the pathological physiological processes such as cell apoptosis, arthritis, embryonic form, nerve degeneration and neuromuscular disorders and cancer. Studies have showen the subtypes are closely associated with preeclampsia. This paper presents the progress of HtrA associated with preeclampsia and its mediated control network, to further understand the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and provide a new treatment method has an important significance.

Key words: Pre-eclampsia, HtrA, serine protease family