Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
We aimed to assess the etiological role of apoptotic genes Bcl-2 and Bax in the background of major obstetric and gynaecological diseases. Placental tissue samples were collected from 101 pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction and 104 pregnancies with premature birth with 140 controll samples from term, eutrophic newborns. In addition, gene expression assessment of the genes Bax and Bcl-2 was performed in 101 uterine leiomyoma tissue samples at our disposal with 110 control cases. Gene expression levels were assessed by PCR method. The expression of the Bcl-2 gene was decreased in placental samples with intrauterine growth restriction. Significant overexpression of the proapoptotic Bax gene was detected in samples from premature infants. Antiapoptotic Bcl-2 gene expression was found to be significantly increased in fibroid tissues. Apoptosis plays a crucial role in the development of the most common OB/GYN conditions. Decrease in the placental expression of the antiapoptotic gene Bcl-2 may upset the balance of programmed cell death.
Highlights
Programmed cell death plays an important role during the development of the placenta and in the regulation of its ageing during pregnancy [35]
During our 1-year study, gene expression results of 101 placenta samples obtained during the birth of infants with intrauterine growth restriction treated at the Semmelweis University 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology were compared to the gene expression levels of placental samples obtained during the birth of 140 eutrophic newborns
Regarding the birth weight of expectant mothers, our data confirmed that the birth weight of women delivering infants with birth weight between 0–5th percentile was significantly lower than those delivering infants with birth weight between 5 and 10th percentile (P < 0.05)
Summary
Programmed cell death (apoptosis) plays an important role during the development of the placenta and in the regulation of its ageing during pregnancy [35]. Bcl-2 from the antiapoptotic group, and Bax from the proapoptotic group exert the strongest biological effect; we traced back the regulation and balance of the apoptotic process in the investigated conditions to the establishment of the balance between these two genes, and to the change in their activity [9, 38]. Several studies have confirmed that the role of apoptosis increases during pregnancy with increasing gestational age, and that this is related to the change in activity of the members of the Bcl-2 gene family [19, 43, 45]. Several gestational pathological states have been related to the modified apoptotic activity of trophoblast cells, such as intrauterine growth restriction, premature birth or preeclampsia [1, 11, 14, 22, 23]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
