COMPARISON OF TROPHOBLAST CELL Bak PROTEIN EXPRESSION AND APOPTOTIC INDEX BETWEEN SEVERE PREECLAMPSIA AND NORMOTENSIVE PREGNANCY
Marihot Pasaribu, Diah Rumekti Hadiati, Muhammad Sulchan Sofoewan
Feto Maternal Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department
* Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta*
Abstract
Background: Placental is a central and important focus on the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Failure of trophoblast cell to the spiral arteries remodeling process due to excessive apoptosis causes uteroplacenter ischemia and damage of endothelial cells that give rise to clinical manifestasions of preeclampsia. Excessive trophoblast apoptosis in preeclampsia mainly occurs through the intrinsic pathway in which expression of Bak protein increases mitochondrial membranes permeability of cytochrome C which further activated the caspase cascade and become involved in the process of cell death.
Objective of study: To compare the expression of Bak protein and trophoblastic apoptotic index between severe preeclampsia and normotensive pregnancies.
Methods: Cross sectional study which consist of 43 severe preeclampsia pregnancies and 38 normotensive pregnancies recruited between October 2011-March 2012. Trophoblastic cells Bak protein expression is measured by imunohistochemical staining technique and trophoblast apoptotic index quantification is examined by TUNEL assay.
Results: There are significant differences of Bak protein expression in placental tissue of preeclampsia group (2.37±0.91; p=0.012) compared by normotensive group (1.92±0.59). There are significant differences of apoptotic index in placental tissue of preeclampsia group (0.44±0.26, p=0.00) compared by normotensive group (0.24±0.20).
Conclusion: The Bak protein expression and the number of apoptotic cells in trophoblast tissue of preeclampsia complicated pregnancy were higher than normal pregnancy.
Keywords: trophoblast, severe preeclampsia, Bak protein, imunohistochemical, TUNEL, apoptosis.