Serap Otçu & Esra Nur Atiç

The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of inflammation in the placenta on the pro-apoptotic development after severe preeclampsia. Placenta tissue samples of 15 HELLP syndrome and 15 healthy 35-38th week-pregnant women were involved in the study. Tissue samples were taken only from the maternal side of the placenta and fixed in 10 % formaldehyde, then blocked in paraffin wax and 4-6 mm-thick sections were cut and stained with Harris Hematoxylene-Eosin. Antigen retrieval was performed for sections, incubated with FAS antibody and anti-IL-6 antibody. After the application of streptavidin peroxidase followed by AEC chromogen solution, sections were counterstained with Harris hematoxylin. Significant thickening of the fibrinoid layer, degeneration and apoptotic change in decidua cells, marked increase in the hyalinized area, degenerative changes in the syncytial regions of the chorionic villus and an increase in syncytial nodes and bridges and IL- expression were observed as positive. FAS expression was positive in the pycnotic nuclei of decidual cells in the maternal region and in the syncytial regions. It was observed that the proapoptotic process increased as a result of severe preeclampsia. It was concluded that the control of cytokine activity and reduction of pro-apoptotic signal during the inflammation process will slow down the development of HELLP syndrome.

KEY WORDS: HELLP syndrome; FAS expression; IL-6 Expression; Placenta.