Javan Gulnaz T, Can Ismail, Finley Sheree J, Soni Shivani
Forensic Science Program, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, 36104, USA.
Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, 36104, USA.
Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2015 Dec;11(4):509-16. doi: 10.1007/s12024-015-9704-6. Epub 2015 Aug 30.
Gene expression investigations are well-established components of ante mortem studies with broad applications ranging from elucidating basic mechanisms responsible for normal physiological processes to discovering therapeutic targets in pathophysiological conditions. However, gene expression studies and their application in the medico-legal field are still in their infancy. Therefore, the present study focuses on RNA using PCR array in the analysis of gene expression associated with tissues taken from actual criminal cases. RNA was extracted from the liver tissues of bodies with PMIs between 6 and 48 h. The results demonstrated that mRNA was stable up to 48 h postmortem. Further, as cell death is an indispensable and necessary part of the biological life cycle, apoptotic gene expression profiles were investigated. The gene expression related to the programmed cell death found in body tissues after death is defined as the apoptotic thanatotranscriptome (thanatos-, Greek for death). On comparison of control and decaying tissues, the results show that with time, pro-apoptotic genes such as caspases are up-regulated and the expression of genes responsible for anti-apoptosis such as BCL2 and BAG3 were down-regulated. Thus, this current work gives a unique perspective of the apoptotic thanatotranscriptome that is affected after death. Up to the present time, gene expression in bodies from criminal cases has not been reported in literature using PCR array techniques. Thus, this thanatotranscriptome study provides insight into postmortem gene activity with potential applications in medico-legal investigations.
基因表达研究是生前研究中成熟的组成部分，其应用广泛，涵盖从阐明正常生理过程的基本机制到发现病理生理状况下的治疗靶点等各个方面。然而，基因表达研究及其在法医学领域的应用仍处于起步阶段。因此，本研究聚焦于利用PCR阵列分析来自实际刑事案件的组织中与基因表达相关的RNA。从死后间隔时间为6至48小时的尸体肝脏组织中提取RNA。结果表明，mRNA在死后48小时内保持稳定。此外，由于细胞死亡是生物生命周期中不可或缺且必要的一部分，因此对凋亡基因表达谱进行了研究。在死后尸体组织中发现的与程序性细胞死亡相关的基因表达被定义为凋亡死亡转录组（thanatos -，希腊语中意为死亡）。通过对照组织与腐败组织的比较，结果显示，随着时间推移，诸如半胱天冬酶等促凋亡基因上调，而诸如BCL2和BAG3等抗凋亡基因的表达下调。因此，这项当前工作为死后受影响的凋亡死亡转录组提供了独特的视角。截至目前，尚未有文献报道使用PCR阵列技术对刑事案件尸体中的基因表达进行研究。因此，这项死亡转录组研究为死后基因活性提供了见解，在法医学调查中具有潜在应用价值。
