Both the adipocytes as well as the non-adipocyte fraction of the adipose tissue synthesize and secrete several adipokines including leptin, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and hepatocyte growth factors (HGF), which are also well known to be involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. This evidence concerns the gene LEP and preeclampsia.