p53‑mediated apoptosis as a molecular link between oxidative stress and bad obstetric history

Parakkulam Ramakrishnan,Radhika; Chandrasekaran,Deepika; Divakaran,Dinesh Roy; Muninathan,Natarajan; Mahila,Subramani; Gopan Mini,Reshma

doi:10.3892/wasj.2026.485

July-August 2026 Volume 8 Issue 4

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July-August 2026 Volume 8 Issue 4

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p53‑mediated apoptosis as a molecular link between oxidative stress and bad obstetric history

Authors:
- Radhika Parakkulam Ramakrishnan
- Deepika Chandrasekaran
- Dinesh Roy Divakaran
- Natarajan Muninathan
- Subramani Mahila
- Reshma Gopan Mini
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Affiliations: Department of Physiology, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600078, India, Department of Physiology, Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631552, India, Genetika, Centre for Advanced Genetic Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695024, India, Central Research Laboratory, Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631552, India, Department of Physiology, Panimalar Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600123, India

Copyright: © Parakkulam Ramakrishnan et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License [CC BY 4.0].
Article Number: 70
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Published online on: June 3, 2026

https://doi.org/10.3892/wasj.2026.485
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Abstract

Bad obstetric history (BOH), characterised by recurrent pregnancy loss and other adverse pregnancy outcomes, affects ~5% of women worldwide and often causes significant psychological distress to affected women and their families. Increasing evidence suggests that oxidative stress and dysregulated apoptosis play crucial roles in its pathogenesis. The p53 gene is a key regulator of apoptosis during normal pregnancy; however, its specific involvement in BOH and its association with oxidative stress are not yet clearly understood. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess oxidative stress and apoptotic markers along with p53 gene expression in women with BOH in order to explore their interrelationship. For this purpose, a case‑control study was conducted with 100 BOH cases and 100 healthy controls. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and caspase‑3 levels were measured from serum using ELISA in order to assess oxidative stress and apoptosis, respectively, while p53 gene expression (2^‑ΔΔCq method) was quantified using reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR. Data were analysed for group differences and correlations using Jamovi software. Compared with the controls, women with BOH exhibited significantly elevated MDA (4.1±1.6 vs. 1.9±0.8 nmol/ml), caspase‑3 (3.3±2.3 vs. 1.9±1.0 ng/ml) and p53 gene expression levels (1.4±0.7 vs. 1.0±0.2; all P<0.01). A moderate positive correlation was observed between MDA and p53 (r=0.4584, P<0.01), whereas a strong correlation was observed between caspase‑3 and p53 (r=0.7136, P<0.01). On the whole, the present study demonstrates that oxidative stress and p53‑mediated apoptosis exhibit a significant association with BOH, suggesting their potential relevance in the condition. An enhanced p53 expression and caspase‑3 activity contribute to impaired placental function and pregnancy loss, highlighting p53 as a potential molecular marker for early risk identification.

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Journals

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Oncology

Molecular Medicine Reports

Oncology Reports

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Oncology Letters

Biomedical Reports

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

World Academy of Sciences Journal

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

International Journal of Epigenetics

Medicine International

p53‑mediated apoptosis as a molecular link between oxidative stress and bad obstetric history

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