The role of apoptosis in the complex pathogenesis of the most common obstetrics and gynaecology diseases P. KOV  ACS 1,2 ,J  OZSEF G  ABOR JO  O 2,3p , V. TAM  AS 2 , Z. MOLN  AR 2 , D. BURIK-HAJAS 2 , J. B  ODIS 2,4 and L. KORNYA 2,5 1 Clinical Research Units Hungary, Miskolc, Hungary 2 Doctoral School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of P ecs, P ecs, Hungary 3 First Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary 4 Hungarian Academy of Sciences, University of P ecs (MTA-PTE), Human Reproduction Scientific Research Group, University of P ecs, P ecs, Hungary 5 Central Hospital of Southern Pest, National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, Budapest, Hungary Received: September 9, 2019 • Accepted: January 7, 2020 Published online: April 23, 2020 © 2020 The Author(s) ABSTRACT Purpose: We aimed to assess the etiological role of apoptotic genes Bcl-2 and Bax in the background of major obstetric and gynaecological diseases. Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusion: 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. p Corresponding author. Clinical Research Units, H-2132 Th€ ok€ oly str. 15, G€ od, Hungary. Fax: þ36 46798264, E-mail: joogabor@hotmail.com Physiology International 107 (2020) 1, 106–119 DOI: 10.1556/2060.2020.00014 Unauthenticated | Downloaded 01/12/22 02:10 PM UTC