1
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Hu Y, Han L, Zhang H, Li W, Wu T, Ma J, Zhang D, Ma K, Xiao B, Yu Y, Xu H, Tian L, Liao X, Chen L. The down-regulation of STC2 mRNA may serve as a biomarker for death from mechanical asphyxia. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2024; 67:102382. [PMID: 38159418 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2023.102382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Death from mechanical asphyxia (DMA) is a common cause of death in forensic pathology. However, due to the lack of biomarkers, the authentication of DMA now relies on a series of non-specific signs, which may cause troubles in the judicial trials, especially when the criminal scene is not fully elucidated. To search for the potential biomarkers for DMA, brain samples of DMA and craniocerebral injury groups were screened by microarray. The obtained mRNAs were validated by animal and human samples. Primary cell culture was conducted to explore the biochemical changes under hypoxia. 415 differentially expressed mRNAs between two groups were discovered. Ten mRNAs were examined in both human and animal samples died of different causes of death. Stanniocalcin-2 (STC2) showed significant down-regulation in DMA samples compared to other groups, regardless of PMI, age, or temperature. Cellular experiments indicated that ROS level peaked after 15-min-hypoxic culture, when the expression level of STC2 was significant down-regulated simultaneously. The ER-stress-related proteins also showed potential connection with STC2. In general, it is indicated that the down-regulation of STC2 may serve as a biomarker for DMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yikai Hu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Liujun Han
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Heng Zhang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Pathology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Wencan Li
- Institute of Criminal Scientific Technology, Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau Pudong Branch, Shanghai 200125, China
| | - Tianpu Wu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jianlong Ma
- Institute of Criminal Science and Technology, Investigation Department of Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau, Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Shenzhen 518040, China
| | - Dongchuan Zhang
- Forensic Lab, Criminal Science and Technology Institute, Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau, Shanghai 200082, China
| | - Kaijun Ma
- Forensic Lab, Criminal Science and Technology Institute, Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau, Shanghai 200082, China
| | - Bi Xiao
- Forensic Lab, Criminal Science and Technology Institute, Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau, Shanghai 200082, China
| | - Yangeng Yu
- Institute of Forensic Science, Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Guangzhou 510050, China
| | - Hongmei Xu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Lu Tian
- Institute of Criminal Scientific Technology, Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau Pudong Branch, Shanghai 200125, China.
| | - Xinbiao Liao
- Institute of Forensic Science, Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Guangzhou 510050, China.
| | - Long Chen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
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2
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Song B, Qian J, Fu J. Research progress and potential application of microRNA and other non-coding RNAs in forensic medicine. Int J Legal Med 2024; 138:329-350. [PMID: 37770641 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-023-03091-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
At present, epigenetic markers have been extensively studied in various fields and have a high value in forensic medicine due to their unique mode of inheritance, which does not involve DNA sequence alterations. As an epigenetic phenomenon that plays an important role in gene expression, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) act as key factors mediating gene silencing, participating in cell division, and regulating immune response and other important biological processes. With the development of molecular biology, genetics, bioinformatics, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, ncRNAs such as microRNA (miRNA), circular RNA (circRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), and P-element induced wimpy testis (PIWI)-interacting RNA (piRNA) are increasingly been shown to have potential in the practice of forensic medicine. NcRNAs, mainly miRNA, may provide new strategies and methods for the identification of tissues and body fluids, cause-of-death analysis, time-related estimation, age estimation, and the identification of monozygotic twins. In this review, we describe the research progress and application status of ncRNAs, mainly miRNA, and other ncRNAs such as circRNA, lncRNA, and piRNA, in forensic practice, including the identification of tissues and body fluids, cause-of-death analysis, time-related estimation, age estimation, and the identification of monozygotic twins. The close links between ncRNAs and forensic medicine are presented, and their research values and application prospects in forensic medicine are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binghui Song
- Key Laboratory of Epigenetics and Oncology, the Research Center for Preclinical Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine and DNA Forensic Medicine, the Research Center for Preclinical Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Jie Qian
- Key Laboratory of Epigenetics and Oncology, the Research Center for Preclinical Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine and DNA Forensic Medicine, the Research Center for Preclinical Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Junjiang Fu
- Key Laboratory of Epigenetics and Oncology, the Research Center for Preclinical Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China.
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine and DNA Forensic Medicine, the Research Center for Preclinical Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China.
- Laboratory of Forensic DNA, the Judicial Authentication Center, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China.
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3
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Zhang K, Liu R, Wei X, Wang Z, Huang P. Use of Raman spectroscopy to study rat lung tissues for distinguishing asphyxia from sudden cardiac death. RSC Adv 2024; 14:5665-5674. [PMID: 38357034 PMCID: PMC10865087 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra07684a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Determining asphyxia as the cause of death is crucial but is based on an exclusive strategy because it lacks sensitive and specific morphological characteristics in forensic practice. In some cases where the deceased has underlying heart disease, differentiation between asphyxia and sudden cardiac death (SCD) as the primary cause of death can be challenging. Herein, Raman spectroscopy was employed to detect pulmonary biochemical differences to discriminate asphyxia from SCD in rat models. Thirty-two rats were used to build asphyxia and SCD models, with lung samples collected immediately or 24 h after death. Twenty Raman spectra were collected for each lung sample, and 640 spectra were obtained for further data preprocessing and analysis. The results showed that different biochemical alterations existed in the lung tissues of the rats that died from asphyxia and SCD and could be used to distinguish between the two causes of death. Moreover, we screened and used 8 of the 11 main differential spectral features that maintained their significant differences at 24 h after death to successfully determine the cause of death, even with decomposition and autolysis. Eventually, seven prevalent machine learning classification algorithms were employed to establish classification models, among which the support vector machine exhibited the best performance, with an area under the curve value of 0.9851 in external validation. This study shows the promise of Raman spectroscopy combined with machine learning algorithms to investigate differential biochemical alterations originating from different deaths to aid determining the cause of death in forensic practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhang
- Shanghai Key Lab of Forensic Medicine, Key Lab of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, China, Academy of Forensic Science Shanghai People's Republic of China
- Department of Forensic Pathology, College of Forensic Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an People's Republic of China
| | - Ruina Liu
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Wei
- Department of Forensic Pathology, College of Forensic Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenyuan Wang
- Department of Forensic Pathology, College of Forensic Medicine, NHC Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Xi'an Jiaotong University Xi'an People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Huang
- Shanghai Key Lab of Forensic Medicine, Key Lab of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, China, Academy of Forensic Science Shanghai People's Republic of China
- Institute of Forensic Science, Fudan University Shanghai People's Republic of China
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4
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Suo L, Cheng J, Yuan H, Jiang Z, Tash D, Wang L, Cheng H, Zhang Z, Zhang F, Zhang M, Cao Z, Zhao R, Guan D. miR-26a/30d/152 are reliable reference genes for miRNA quantification in skin wound age estimation. Forensic Sci Res 2023; 8:230-240. [PMID: 38221964 PMCID: PMC10785593 DOI: 10.1093/fsr/owad037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that exert their biological functions as negative regulators of gene expression. They are involved in the skin wound healing process with a dynamic expression pattern and can therefore potentially serve as biomarkers for skin wound age estimation. However, no reports have described any miRNAs as suitable reference genes (RGs) for miRNA quantification in wounded skin or samples with post-mortem changes. Here, we aimed to identify specific miRNAs as RGs for miRNA quantification to support further studies of skin wound age estimation. Overall, nine miRNAs stably expressed in mouse skin at certain posttraumatic intervals (PTIs) were preselected by next-generation sequencing as candidate RGs. These nine miRNAs and the commonly used reference genes (comRGs: U6, GAPDH, ACTB, 18S, 5S, LC-Ogdh) were quantitatively examined using quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction at different PTIs during skin wound healing in mice. The stabilities of these genes were evaluated using four independent algorithms: GeNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and comparative Delta Ct. Stability was further evaluated in mice with different post-mortem intervals (PMIs). Overall, mmu-miR-26a-5p, mmu-miR-30d-5p, and mmu-miR-152-3p were identified as the most stable genes at both different PTIs and PMIs. These three miRNA RGs were additionally validated and compared with the comRGs in human samples. After assessing using one, two, or three miRNAs in combination for stability at different PTIs, PMIs, or in human samples, the set of miR-26a/30d/152 was approved as the best normalizer. In conclusion, our data suggest that the combination of miR-26a/30d/152 is recommended as the normalization strategy for miRNA qRT-PCR quantification in skin wound age estimation. Key points The small size of miRNAs makes them less susceptible to post-mortem autolysis or putrefaction, leading to their potential use in wound age estimation.Studying miRNAs as biological indicators of skin wound age estimation requires the selection and validation of stable reference genes because commonly used reference genes, such as U6, ACTB, GAPDH, 5S, 18S, and LC-Ogdh, are not stable.miR-26a/30d/152 are stable and reliable as reference genes and their use in combination is a recommended normalization strategy for miRNA quantitative analysis in wounded skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longlong Suo
- Department of Forensic Pathology, China Medical University School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, China
| | - Jian Cheng
- Department of Forensic Pathology, China Medical University School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, China
| | - Haomiao Yuan
- Department of Forensic Pathology, China Medical University School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhenfei Jiang
- Department of Road Traffic Accident Investigation, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Dilichati Tash
- Department of Forensic Pathology, China Medical University School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, China
- Autonomous Prefecture Public Security Bureau, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, China
| | - Linlin Wang
- Department of Forensic Pathology, China Medical University School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, China
- Collaborative Laboratory of Intelligentized Forensic Science, Shenyang, China
- Laboratory of Forensic Biochemistry, China Medical University School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, China
| | - Hao Cheng
- Department of Forensic Pathology, China Medical University School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhongduo Zhang
- Department of Forensic Pathology, China Medical University School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, China
| | - Fuyuan Zhang
- Department of Forensic Pathology, China Medical University School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, China
| | - Miao Zhang
- Department of Forensic Pathology, China Medical University School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, China
- Collaborative Laboratory of Intelligentized Forensic Science, Shenyang, China
- Laboratory of Forensic Biochemistry, China Medical University School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhipeng Cao
- Department of Forensic Pathology, China Medical University School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, China
- Collaborative Laboratory of Intelligentized Forensic Science, Shenyang, China
- Laboratory of Forensic Biochemistry, China Medical University School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, China
| | - Rui Zhao
- Department of Forensic Pathology, China Medical University School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, China
- Collaborative Laboratory of Intelligentized Forensic Science, Shenyang, China
- Laboratory of Forensic Biochemistry, China Medical University School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, China
| | - Dawei Guan
- Department of Forensic Pathology, China Medical University School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, China
- Collaborative Laboratory of Intelligentized Forensic Science, Shenyang, China
- Laboratory of Forensic Biochemistry, China Medical University School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, China
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5
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Li Y, Wang Z, Ishmael D, Lvy Y. The potential of using non-coding RNAs in forensic science applications. Forensic Sci Res 2023; 8:98-106. [PMID: 37621455 PMCID: PMC10445561 DOI: 10.1093/fsr/owad003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
With the continuous development and integration of molecular biology and forensic science, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), especially ncRNAs with regulatory functions such as microRNA, long non-coding RNA, and circular RNA, have recently been actively explored by forensic scholars. In this study, we review the literature on these ncRNAs in various fields of forensic science, including postmortem interval determination, wound age estimation, forensic age assessment, cause of death analysis, and body fluid identification, aiming to evaluate the current research and provide a perspective for future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yawen Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhuoqun Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Dikeledi Ishmael
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yehui Lvy
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Wound Prevention and Treatment, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
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6
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Zhang K, Liu R, Tuo Y, Ma K, Zhang D, Wang Z, Huang P. Distinguishing Asphyxia from Sudden Cardiac Death as the Cause of Death from the Lung Tissues of Rats and Humans Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:46859-46869. [PMID: 36570197 PMCID: PMC9773813 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c05968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The ability to determine asphyxia as a cause of death is important in forensic practice and helps us to judge whether a case is criminal. However, in some cases where the deceased has underlying heart disease, death by asphyxia cannot be determined by traditional autopsy and morphological observation under a microscope because there are no specific morphological features for either asphyxia or sudden cardiac death (SCD). Here, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was employed to distinguish asphyxia from SCD. A total of 40 lung tissues (collected at 0 h and 24 h postmortem) from 20 rats (10 died from asphyxia and 10 died from SCD) and 16 human lung tissues from 16 real cases were used for spectral data acquisition. After data preprocessing, 2675 spectra from rat lung tissues and 1526 spectra from human lung tissues were obtained for subsequent analysis. First, we found that there were biochemical differences in the rat lung tissues between the two causes of death by principal component analysis and partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), which were related to alterations in lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. In addition, a PLS-DA classification model can be built to distinguish asphyxia from SCD. Second, based on the spectral data obtained from lung tissues allowed to decompose for 24 h, we could still distinguish asphyxia from SCD even when decomposition occurred in animal models. Nine important spectral features that contributed to the discrimination in the animal experiment were selected and further analyzed. Third, 7 of the 9 differential spectral features were also found to be significantly different in human lung tissues from 16 real cases. A support vector machine model was finally built by using the seven variables to distinguish asphyxia from SCD in the human samples. Compared with the linear PLS-DA model, its accuracy was significantly improved to 0.798, and the correct rate of determining the cause of death was 100%. This study shows the application potential of FTIR spectroscopy for exploring the subtle biochemical differences resulting from different death processes and determining the cause of death even after decomposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhang
- Department
of Forensic Pathology, College of Forensic Medicine, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, People’s
Republic of China
| | - Ruina Liu
- Department
of Forensic Pathology, College of Forensic Medicine, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, People’s
Republic of China
| | - Ya Tuo
- Department
of Biochemistry and Physiology, Shanghai
University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai 201318, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kaijun Ma
- Shanghai
Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Institute of Criminal Science
and Technology, Shanghai Municipal Public
Security Bureau, Shanghai 200042, People’s Republic
of China
| | - Dongchuan Zhang
- Shanghai
Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Institute of Criminal Science
and Technology, Shanghai Municipal Public
Security Bureau, Shanghai 200042, People’s Republic
of China
| | - Zhenyuan Wang
- Department
of Forensic Pathology, College of Forensic Medicine, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, People’s
Republic of China
| | - Ping Huang
- Shanghai
Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai 200063, People’s Republic of China
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7
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Zhang K, Tuo Y, Liu R, Yan H, Xiang P, Wang Z, Huang P. The use of untargeted and widely targeted metabolomics to distinguish between asphyxia and sudden cardiac death as the cause of death in rats: A preliminary study. ARAB J CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2022.104322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
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8
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Li W, Shao C, Zhou H, Du H, Chen H, Wan H, He Y. Multi-omics research strategies in ischemic stroke: A multidimensional perspective. Ageing Res Rev 2022; 81:101730. [PMID: 36087702 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2022.101730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Ischemic stroke (IS) is a multifactorial and heterogeneous neurological disorder with high rate of death and long-term impairment. Despite years of studies, there are still no stroke biomarkers for clinical practice, and the molecular mechanisms of stroke remain largely unclear. The high-throughput omics approach provides new avenues for discovering biomarkers of IS and explaining its pathological mechanisms. However, single-omics approaches only provide a limited understanding of the biological pathways of diseases. The integration of multiple omics data means the simultaneous analysis of thousands of genes, RNAs, proteins and metabolites, revealing networks of interactions between multiple molecular levels. Integrated analysis of multi-omics approaches will provide helpful insights into stroke pathogenesis, therapeutic target identification and biomarker discovery. Here, we consider advances in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics and outline their use in discovering the biomarkers and pathological mechanisms of IS. We then delineate strategies for achieving integration at the multi-omics level and discuss how integrative omics and systems biology can contribute to our understanding and management of IS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wentao Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Chongyu Shao
- School of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Huifen Zhou
- School of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Haixia Du
- School of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Haiyang Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Haitong Wan
- School of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
| | - Yu He
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
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9
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Cohn W, Zhu C, Campagna J, Bilousova T, Spilman P, Teter B, Li F, Guo R, Elashoff D, Cole GM, Avidan A, Faull KF, Whitelegge J, Wong DTW, John V. Integrated Multiomics Analysis of Salivary Exosomes to Identify Biomarkers Associated with Changes in Mood States and Fatigue. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:5257. [PMID: 35563647 PMCID: PMC9105576 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23095257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fatigue and other deleterious mood alterations resulting from prolonged efforts such as a long work shift can lead to a decrease in vigilance and cognitive performance, increasing the likelihood of errors during the execution of attention-demanding activities such as piloting an aircraft or performing medical procedures. Thus, a method to rapidly and objectively assess the risk for such cognitive fatigue would be of value. The objective of the study was the identification in saliva-borne exosomes of molecular signals associated with changes in mood and fatigue that may increase the risk of reduced cognitive performance. Using integrated multiomics analysis of exosomes from the saliva of medical residents before and after a 12 h work shift, we observed changes in the abundances of several proteins and miRNAs that were associated with various mood states, and specifically fatigue, as determined by a Profile of Mood States questionnaire. The findings herein point to a promising protein biomarker, phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1), that was associated with fatigue and displayed changes in abundance in saliva, and we suggest a possible biological mechanism whereby the expression of the PGK1 gene is regulated by miR3185 in response to fatigue. Overall, these data suggest that multiomics analysis of salivary exosomes has merit for identifying novel biomarkers associated with changes in mood states and fatigue. The promising biomarker protein presents an opportunity for the development of a rapid saliva-based test for the assessment of these changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitaker Cohn
- The Drug Discovery Lab, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, 710 Westwood Plaza, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (W.C.); (C.Z.); (J.C.); (T.B.); (P.S.); (B.T.)
| | - Chunni Zhu
- The Drug Discovery Lab, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, 710 Westwood Plaza, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (W.C.); (C.Z.); (J.C.); (T.B.); (P.S.); (B.T.)
| | - Jesus Campagna
- The Drug Discovery Lab, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, 710 Westwood Plaza, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (W.C.); (C.Z.); (J.C.); (T.B.); (P.S.); (B.T.)
| | - Tina Bilousova
- The Drug Discovery Lab, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, 710 Westwood Plaza, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (W.C.); (C.Z.); (J.C.); (T.B.); (P.S.); (B.T.)
| | - Patricia Spilman
- The Drug Discovery Lab, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, 710 Westwood Plaza, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (W.C.); (C.Z.); (J.C.); (T.B.); (P.S.); (B.T.)
| | - Bruce Teter
- The Drug Discovery Lab, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, 710 Westwood Plaza, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (W.C.); (C.Z.); (J.C.); (T.B.); (P.S.); (B.T.)
| | - Feng Li
- Center for Oral/Head & Neck Oncology Research, Laboratory of Salivary Diagnostics, School of Dentistry, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (F.L.); (D.T.W.W.)
| | - Rong Guo
- Department of Medicine Statistics Core, David Geffen School of Medicine, 1100 Glendon Avenue, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (R.G.); (D.E.)
| | - David Elashoff
- Department of Medicine Statistics Core, David Geffen School of Medicine, 1100 Glendon Avenue, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (R.G.); (D.E.)
| | - Greg M. Cole
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, 710 Westwood Plaza, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (G.M.C.); (A.A.)
| | - Alon Avidan
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, 710 Westwood Plaza, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (G.M.C.); (A.A.)
| | - Kym Francis Faull
- Pasarow Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, 760 Westwood Plaza, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (K.F.F.); (J.W.)
| | - Julian Whitelegge
- Pasarow Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, 760 Westwood Plaza, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (K.F.F.); (J.W.)
| | - David T. W. Wong
- Center for Oral/Head & Neck Oncology Research, Laboratory of Salivary Diagnostics, School of Dentistry, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (F.L.); (D.T.W.W.)
| | - Varghese John
- The Drug Discovery Lab, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, 710 Westwood Plaza, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; (W.C.); (C.Z.); (J.C.); (T.B.); (P.S.); (B.T.)
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10
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Hu Y, Tian L, Ma K, Han L, Li W, Hu L, Fei G, Zhang T, Yu D, Xu L, Wang F, Xiao B, Chen L. ER stress-related protein, CHOP, may serve as a biomarker of mechanical asphyxia: a primary study. Int J Legal Med 2022; 136:1091-1104. [PMID: 35122137 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-021-02770-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The precise authentication of death from mechanical asphyxia (DMA) has been a complex problem in forensic medicine. Besides the traditional methods that concern the superficial characterization of the body, researchers are now paying more attention to the biomarkers that may help the identification of DMA. It has been reported that the extremely hypoxic environment created by DMA can cause the specific expression of mitochondria-related protein, which may sever as the biomarkers of DMA authentication. Since endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) has been found to be related to the dysfunction of mitochondria, it is promising to look for the biomarkers of DMA among ER stress-related proteins. In this article, animal and cell experiments were conducted to examine how ER-mitochondria interaction may be influenced in the hypoxic condition caused by DMA primarily. Human samples were then used to verify the possible biomarkers of DMA. We found that ER stress-related protein CHOP was significantly up-regulated within a short-term postmortem interval (PMI) in brain tissue of DMA samples, which may interact with a series of ER stress- and mitochondria-related protein, leading to the apoptosis of the cells. It was also verified in human samples that the expression level of CHOP can sever as a potential biomarker of DMA within a specific PMI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yikai Hu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 131 Dongan Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Lu Tian
- Forensic Lab, Criminal Science and Technology Institute, Pudong Branch, Shanghai Public Security Bureau, 255 Yanzhong Road, Shanghai, 200125, People's Republic of China
| | - Kaijun Ma
- Forensic Lab, Criminal Science and Technology Institute, Shanghai Public Security Bureau, 803 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai, 200082, People's Republic of China
| | - Liujun Han
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 131 Dongan Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Wencan Li
- Forensic Lab, Criminal Science and Technology Institute, Pudong Branch, Shanghai Public Security Bureau, 255 Yanzhong Road, Shanghai, 200125, People's Republic of China
| | - Luyuyan Hu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 131 Dongan Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Geng Fei
- Department of Criminal Science and Technology, Shanghai Police College, 100 Chongjing Road, Shanghai, 200137, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianye Zhang
- Forensic Lab, Criminal Science and Technology Institute, Shanghai Public Security Bureau, 803 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai, 200082, People's Republic of China
| | - Delun Yu
- Forensic Lab, Criminal Science and Technology Institute, Shanghai Public Security Bureau, 803 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai, 200082, People's Republic of China
| | - Luyi Xu
- Forensic Lab, Criminal Science and Technology Institute, Shanghai Public Security Bureau, 803 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai, 200082, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Wang
- Forensic Lab, Criminal Science and Technology Institute, Qianjiang Public Security Bureau, 27 Nanpu Road, Qianjiang, 433199, People's Republic of China
| | - Bi Xiao
- Forensic Lab, Criminal Science and Technology Institute, Shanghai Public Security Bureau, 803 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai, 200082, People's Republic of China.
| | - Long Chen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 131 Dongan Road, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
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Acute or chronic pulmonary emphysema? Or both?-A contribution to the diagnosis of death due to violent asphyxiation in cases with pre-existing chronic emphysema. Int J Legal Med 2021; 136:133-147. [PMID: 34181078 PMCID: PMC8813827 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-021-02619-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The diagnosis of death due to violent asphyxiation may be challenging if external injuries are missing, and a typical acute emphysema (AE) "disappears" in pre-existing chronic emphysema (CE). Eighty-four autopsy cases were systematically investigated to identify a (histo-) morphological or immunohistochemical marker combination that enables the diagnosis of violent asphyxiation in cases with a pre-existing CE ("AE in CE"). The cases comprised four diagnostic groups, namely "AE", "CE", "acute and chronic emphysema (AE + CE)", and "no emphysema (NE)". Samples from all pulmonary lobes were investigated by conventional histological methods as well as with the immunohistochemical markers Aquaporin 5 (AQP-5) and Surfactant protein A1 (SP-A). Particular attention was paid to alveolar septum ends ("dead-ends") suspected as rupture spots, which were additionally analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. The findings in the four diagnostic groups were compared using multivariate analysis and 1-way ANOVA analysis. All morphological findings were found in all four groups. Based on histological and macroscopic findings, a multivariate analysis was able to predict the correct diagnosis "AE + CE" with a probability of 50%, and the diagnoses "AE" and "CE" with a probability of 86% each. Three types of "dead-ends" could be differentiated. One type ("fringed ends") was observed significantly more frequently in AE. The immunohistochemical markers AQP-5 and SP-A did not show significant differences among the examined groups. Though a reliable identification of AE in CE could not be achieved using the examined parameters, our findings suggest that considering many different findings from the macroscopical, histomorphological, and molecular level by multivariate analysis is an approach that should be followed.
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12
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Metabolomics improves the histopathological diagnosis of asphyxial deaths: an animal proof-of-concept model. Sci Rep 2021; 11:10102. [PMID: 33980966 PMCID: PMC8115104 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89570-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The diagnosis of mechanical asphyxia remains one of the most difficult issues in forensic pathology. Asphyxia ultimately results in cardiac arrest (CA) and, as there are no specific markers, the differential diagnosis of primitive CA and CA secondary to asphyxiation relies on circumstantial details and on the pathologist experience, lacking objective evidence. Histological examination is currently considered the gold standard for CA post-mortem diagnosis. Here we present the comparative results of histopathology versus those previously obtained by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics in a swine model, originally designed for clinical purposes, exposed to two different CA causes, namely ventricular fibrillation and asphyxia. While heart and brain microscopical analysis could identify the damage induced by CA without providing any additional information on the CA cause, metabolomics allowed the identification of clearly different profiles between the two groups and showed major differences between asphyxiated animals with good and poor outcomes. Minute-by-minute plasma sampling allowed to associate these modifications to the pre-arrest asphyxial phase showing a clear correlation to the cellular effect of mechanical asphyxia reproduced in the experiment. The results suggest that metabolomics provides additional evidence beyond that obtained by histology and immunohistochemistry in the differential diagnosis of CA.
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13
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Han L, Li W, Hu Y, Zhang H, Ma J, Ma K, Xiao B, Fei G, Zeng Y, Tian L, Chen L. Model for the prediction of mechanical asphyxia as the cause of death based on four biological indexes in human cardiac tissue. Sci Justice 2021; 61:221-226. [PMID: 33985670 DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2021.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Determination of mechanical asphyxia as the cause of death has always been difficult for forensic pathologists, particularly when signs of asphyxia are not obvious on the body. Currently, depending on only physical examination of corpses, pathologists must be cautious when making cause-of-death appraisals. In a previous study, four biomarkers-dual-specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1), potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily J member 2 (KCNJ2), miR-122, and miR-3185-were screened in human cardiac tissue from cadavers that died from mechanical asphyxia compared with those that died from craniocerebral injury, hemorrhagic shock, or other causes. Expression of the markers correlated with death from mechanical asphyxia regardless of age, environmental temperature, and postmortem interval. However, a single biological index is not an accurate basis for the identification of the cause of death. In this study, receiver operating characteristic curves of the ΔCq values of the four indexes were generated. The diagnostic accuracy of the indexes was judged according to their area under the curve (DUSP1: 0.773, KCNJ2: 0.775, miR-122: 0.667, and miR-3185: 0.801). Finally, a nomogram was generated, and single blind experiment was conducted to verify the cause of death of mechanical asphyxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liujun Han
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Wencan Li
- Institute of Criminal Scientific Technology, Shanghai Public Security Bureau Pudong Branch, Shanghai 200125, China
| | - Yikai Hu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Heng Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Jianlong Ma
- Criminal Investigation Department of Shenzhen Public Security Bureau, Shenzhen Institute of Criminal Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Kaijun Ma
- Forensic Lab, Criminal Science and Technology Institute, Shanghai Public Security Bureau, Shanghai 200082, China
| | - Bi Xiao
- Forensic Lab, Criminal Science and Technology Institute, Shanghai Public Security Bureau, Shanghai 200082, China
| | - Geng Fei
- Shanghai Police College, Shanghai 200137, China
| | - Yan Zeng
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Lu Tian
- Institute of Criminal Scientific Technology, Shanghai Public Security Bureau Pudong Branch, Shanghai 200125, China.
| | - Long Chen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
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