Fig 1: Immunohistochemical analysis of initiators of the classical and lectin complement pathways in placental tissue. Sequential sections of pre-eclamptic (PE) and normal (CONTROL) placentae were stained for C1q, MBL and ficolin-3. The panel presents representative images from 15 early-onset PE patients and 15 controls showing localization of C1q in the decidual vessels of both control and early-onset PE placentae with more intense staining in the latter. Deposits of ficolin-3 were seen almost exclusively in decidual vessels of PE placenta while MBL was undetectable. Scale bars, 50 µm.