Brain tissue identification based on myosin heavy chain isoforms

Forensic transcriptome analysis using massively parallel sequencing

The application of transcriptome analyses in forensic genetics has experienced tremendous growth and development in the past decade. The earliest studies and main applications were body fluid and tissue identification, using targeted RNA transcripts and a reverse transcription endpoint PCR method. A number of markers have been identified for the forensically most relevant body fluids and tissues and the method has been successfully used in casework. The introduction of Massively Parallel Sequencing (MPS) opened up new perspectives and opportunities to advance the field. Contrary to genomic DNA where two copies of an autosomal DNA segment are present in a cell, abundant RNA species are expressed in high copy numbers. Even whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) of forensically relevant body fluids and of postmortem material was shown to be possible. This review gives an overview on forensic transcriptome analyses and applications. The methods cover whole transcriptome as well as targeted MPS approaches. High resolution forensic transcriptome analyses using MPS are being applied to body fluid/ tissue identification, determination of the age of stains and the age of the donor, the estimation of the post-mortem interval and to post mortem death investigations.

Potential applications of microRNA profiling to forensic investigations

Within the forensic science community, there is a continued push to develop novel tools to aid in criminal investigations. microRNA (miRNA) analysis has been the focus of many researcher's attention in the biomedical field since its discovery in 1993; however, the forensic application of miRNA analysis has only been suggested within the last 10 years and has been gaining considerable traction recently. The primary focus of the forensic application of miRNA analysis has been on body fluid identification to provide confirmatory universal analysis of unknown biological stains obtained from crime scenes or evidence items. There are, however, other forensic applications of miRNA profiling that have shown potential, yet are largely understudied, and warrant further investigation such as organ tissue identification, donor age estimation, and more. This review paper aims to evaluate the current literature and future potential of miRNA analysis within the forensic science field.

An evidence based strategy for normalization of quantitative PCR data from miRNA expression analysis in forensic organ tissue identification

Messenger-RNA (mRNA)-based analysis of organ tissues and their differentiation in complex crime stains has recently been introduced as a potential and powerful tool to forensic genetics. Given the notoriously low quality of many forensic samples it seems advisable, though, to substitute mRNA with micro-RNA (miRNA) which is much less susceptible to degradation. However, reliable miRNA detection and quantification using quantitative PCR requires a solid and forensically relevant normalization strategy. In our study we evaluated a panel of 15 carefully selected reference genes for their suitability as endogenous controls in miRNA qPCR normalization in forensically relevant settings. We analyzed assay performances and expression variances in 35 individual samples and mixtures thereof integrating highly standardized protocols with contemporary methodologies and included several well-established computational algorithms. Based on these empirical results, we recommend SNORD48, SNORD24, and RNU6-2 as endogenous references since these exhibit the most stable expression levels and the least expected variation among the evaluated candidate reference genes in the given set of forensically relevant organ tissues including skin. To account for the lack of consensus on how best to perform and interpret quantitative PCR experiments, our study's documentation is according to MIQE guidelines, defining the "minimum information for publication of quantitative real-time PCR experiments".

Development of a mRNA profiling multiplex for the inference of organ tissues

Forensic characterisation of organ tissue generally occurs through histological and immunological assays of limited sensitivity. Here, we explore an alternative approach and examine a total of 41 candidate mRNA markers for their ability to differentiate between brain, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, heart, kidney and skin. Various selection rounds are applied involving 85 organ tissues (36 excised autopsy specimens and 49 frozen tissue sections, with at least ten specimens for each organ type), 20 commercially available RNAs from different human tissues and at least two specimens of blood, saliva, semen, vaginal mucosa, menstrual secretion or touch samples. Finally, 14 markers are regarded tissue-specific and included in an endpoint RT-PCR multiplex together with one general muscle, one blood and one housekeeping marker. This 17-plex is successfully used to analyse a blind test set of 20 specimens including mixtures, and samples derived from stabbing of organ tissues. With the blind test set samples, it is shown that an earlier described interpretation strategy for RNA cell typing results [1] is also effective for tissue inference. As organ-typing is embedded in a procedure of combined DNA/RNA extraction and analysis, both donor and organ type information is derived from the same sample. Some autopsy specimens presented DNA profiles characteristic for degraded DNA. Nevertheless, the organ-typing multiplex could generate full RNA profiles, which is probably due to small sizes of the amplicons. This assay provides a novel tool for analysis of samples from violent crimes.

Identification of human brain from a tissue fragment by detection of neurofilament proteins

We developed a method for identifying human brain from a tissue-like fragment by detection of neurofilament protein (NF) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). NF was extracted from 0.1 g of organ/tissue homogenized with Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.2) containing urea, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), EDTA and, EGTA. It was necessary to dilute the extract at more than 2(3)-fold to avoid immunosuppression by urea. Positive reaction was always obtained for NF-H in 2(3)-fold diluted extract of brain tissue, however, NF-L and NF-M were not always detected when a brain fragment contained gray matter. Human cerebral white matter could be easily distinguished from other organs/tissues by detecting any of the NF-subunits. Brains of human and some animals could be discriminated by detecting NF-L or NF-M, although the species specificity of NF-H was not good. Our findings suggested that detection of NF-H was more useful than NF-L and NF-M for identifying a brain from a tissue-like fragment. The present ELISA method for NF-H could identify human brain specimens under the following conditions: putrefied at 4 degrees C for up to 3 weeks, dried at 37 degrees C for at least 4 months, heated at 50 degrees C for at least 4 weeks. Our results showed that our method is useful for identification of brain tissue in forensic stain analysis. Two practical cases are described.

Immunohistochemical studies on expression of human vascular smooth muscle myosin heavy chain isoforms in normal mammary glands, benign mammary disorders and mammary carcinomas

The expression of myosin in normal and diseased mammary glands of 199 Japanese women was evaluated immunohistochemically by the avidin-biotin peroxidase complex method using antibodies to three human smooth muscle myosin heavy chain isoforms derived from the vascular smooth muscle: myosin SM1 is expressed consistently from fetal stage to adulthood, myosin SM2 appears only in well-differentiated smooth muscle after birth, and myosin SMemb is more abundant in embryonic aortas. SM1 was expressed in myoepithelial cells of normal mammary glands and fibrocystic diseases and in myoepithelial-like tumor cells in the basal layer of fibroadenomas and phyllodes tumors. SM2 was expressed only in the myoepithelial cells of mammary glands in breastfeeding women. SMemb was expressed more intensely in the cytoplasm of luminal epithelial cells in larger fibroadenomas (P< 0.01), or in the cytoplasm of carcinoma cells in invasive ductal carcinomas with metastasized lymph nodes (P< 0.001) and in those of higher histological grade (P<0.0001). Multivariate logistic analysis showed a significant correlation only between the expression of SMemb and histological grade (P< 0.0001), which is a prognostic factor of mammary carcinomas. These findings suggested the possible prognostic value of SMemb.

A sandwich enzyme immunoassay for brain S-100 protein and its forensic application

A sensitive sandwich enzyme immunoassay for identification of brain S-100 protein in blood or bloodstains containing brain tissue is described. A polystyrene ball coated with rabbit anti-S-100 protein IgG was incubated with human S-100 protein, and then with anti-S-100 Fab'-peroxidase conjugate. Peroxidase activity bound to the polystyrene ball was assayed by fluorometry using 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid as the hydrogen donor. The detection limit of human S-100 protein was 0.6 pg (30 amol) per assay tube. The cross-reaction of this sandwich enzyme immunoassay to other organs was approximately 1/100 or less. Antigenic activity of S-100 protein in bloodstains containing brain extracts was detectable after storage for 36 days at room temperature. The ratio of S-100 protein to total protein (ng/mg) in bloodstains when brain tissue was mixed with normal human blood at concentrations of 5-500 mg/ml was approximately 100-fold those of other samples (liver, heart, intestine, and skeletal muscle). These results indicated that bloodstains mixed with brain tissue were clearly distinguishable from others. Thus, in forensic practice, measurement of S-100 protein or the ratio of S-100 protein to total protein is useful to identify blood and bloodstains containing brain tissue.