Bcl-2 and Bax expressions in pre-term, term and post-term placentas.
OBJECTIVE
Placental apoptosis-associated protein imbalance might contribute to the pathogenesis of pre- and post-term birth. Therefore, we evaluated the expression and distribution of pro-apoptotic (Bax) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) molecules in term, pre-term and post-term placentas.


METHODS
Placental samples were collected from women with term (n = 25), pre-term (n = 7) and post-term (n = 10) deliveries. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was assessed by immunochemistry on paraffin-embedded placental specimens.


RESULTS
The pattern of immunostaining for Bcl-2 and Bax was the same in all samples, but not the intensity. The Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was higher in both pre-term and post-term placental samples compared with term placentas as a result of intense reactivity for the pro-apoptotic factor, Bax in pre-term and post-term placentas and, for Bcl-2 decrease in pre-term placentas.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that different unbalance mechanisms in placental apoptotic-associated protein expressions may be involved in the physiopathology of pre-term and post-term births.
Daher
Silvia
S
Department of Obstetrics, Paulista Medical School, São Paulo Federal University, São Paulo, Brazil. silviadaher@hotmail.com
Guimarães
Alberto J
AJ
Mattar
Rosiane
R
Ishigai
Márcia M S
MM
Barreiro
Erica G
EG
Bevilacqua
Estela
E
D017209:Apoptosis; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D047929:Term Birth / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism*
C494826:BAX protein, human; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein