Comparison of Bcl-2 and Bax expression in Han and Uigur women with endometriosis

Objective To evaluate and compare expression of apoptosis regulators, Bcl-2 and Bax, in Han and Uigur women with endometriosis.Methods Bcl-2 and Bax expression was measured immunohistochemically.Results Bcl-2 and Bax were predominantly expressed in the glandular epithelial cells.In women with endometriosis, Bcl-2 expression in eutopic and ectopic endometrium was significantly higher than the healthy controls, and Bax expression in eutopic and ectopic endometrium was significantly less than the healthy controls (both P0.05). An increased expression of Bcl-2 was found in proliferative eutopic endometrium of healthy controls than secretory endometrium. Bax expression was strongly expressed both in proliferative and secretory endometrium in healthy controls. No statistically significant difference were found in the expression of Bcl-2、Bax between Han and Uigur women.Conclusions The increased expression of Bcl-2 and the decreased of Bax in women with endometriosis may predispose these cells to resist apoptosis. The continued survival of these active cells could have important consequences for the survival and proliferation of the ectopic endometrial tissue.