Apoptosis and expression of Bcl-2, Bax, p53, caspase-3, and Fas, Fas ligand in placentas complicated by preeclampsia

• Published in: Clinical and experimental obstetrics & gynecology Vol. 38; no. 1; p. 38
• Main Authors: Mendilcioglu, I, Karaveli, S, Erdogan, G, Simsek, M, Taskin, O, Ozekinci, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada 2011
• Subjects: Adult; Apoptosis - physiology; bcl-2-Associated X Protein - biosynthesis; Caspase 3 - biosynthesis; Fas Ligand Protein - biosynthesis; fas Receptor - biosynthesis; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Infant, Newborn; Placenta - metabolism; Placenta - pathology; Pre-Eclampsia - metabolism; Pre-Eclampsia - pathology; Pregnancy; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - biosynthesis; Statistics, Nonparametric; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - biosynthesis; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0390-6663

To determine whether preeclampsia is associated with an increase in placental apoptosis and altered expression of mediators of apoptosis such as Fas, Fas ligand, caspase-3, p53, Bcl-2 and Bax. Placental samples obtained from 20 women with preeclampsia and 14 normal women were analyzed using the Klenow, Frag-EL DNA fragmentation detection kit for apoptosis. Expression of Fas, Fas ligand, caspase-3, p53 Bcl-2, and Bax was assessed using immunohistochemistry. The median percentage of apoptotic nuclei in trophoblasts was significantly higher for the preeclampsia group than for the controls (6.9 vs 0.25; p =.001). Fas ligand expression was significantly higher in the decidua among the subjects with preeclampsia compared with controls (1.2 vs 0; p = .023). Otherwise no difference was observed in the expression of Bax , Bcl-2, p53, caspase-3, and Fas between groups. Increased apoptosis in preeclampsia may not be associated with significant alterations in Fas, Fas ligand, caspase-3, p53, Bcl-2 and Bax expression.