Objective:To investigate the levels of leptin,resistin,adiponectin and visfatin mRNA expression in placental tissues of patients with preeclampsia. Methods:The levels of leptin,resistin,adiponectin and visfatin mRNA expression in placental tissues of 36 healthy term pregnant women (Group A),24 patient with mild preeclampsia (Group B),and 17 patients with severe preeclampsia (Group C) were examined by RT-PCR. Results:①Expression of leptin and resistin mRNA in placental tissues in Group C (1.361±0.261-1.515±0.177) was significantly higher than that in Group A(0.559±0.175-0.508±0.119) and Group B(0.898±0.201-1.055±0.113)(P < 0.05),and was higher in Group B than that in Group A(P < 0.05);②Expression of adiponectin mRNA was significantly lower in Group C(0.222±0.115)compared with Group A(1.422±0.193) and Group B(0.776±0.176)(P < 0.05),and was lower in the Group B than that in the Group A(P < 0.05);③Expression of visfatin mRNA was significantly lower in Group C (0.253±0.119)(P < 0.05)compared with Group A(1.308±0.208) and Group B(1.298±0.193),while no statistical differences were observed between Group A and B (P > 0.05). Conclusion:leptin,resistin,adiponectin and visfatin play an important role in the pathogenesis and development of preeclampsia,and may induce insulin resistance.