Bcl-2 and Bax expressions in pre-term, term and post-term placentas

ProblemPlacental 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.Method of StudyPlacental 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.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionThese 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.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Obstet, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Pathol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Cellular & Dev Biol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Obstet, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Pathol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Cellular & Dev Biol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc