BAK1 and preeclampsia: However, under HR conditions, which we believe reflect the situation within the placentas of women at risk for preeclampsia, vitamin treatment decreases the amount of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, leading to more Bax and Bak present in the mitochondrial membrane to form transition pores with the subsequent release of cytochrome c and the activation of caspase 3.