Zhang Kaikai, Cheng Ming, Xu Jingtao, Chen Lijian, Li Jiahao, Li Qiangguo, Xie Xiaoli, Wang Qi
Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Forensic Science Centre of Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, Guangzhou, China.
Forensic Sci Res. 2020 Apr 21;7(3):503-509. doi: 10.1080/20961790.2020.1719454. eCollection 2022.
In forensic practice, the identification of antemortem burns and postmortem burns is of the utmost importance. Reports from previous studies have shown that miRNAs, with lengths stretching over 18-25 nucleotides, are highly stable and resistant to degradation. However, there has been little research into the application of miRNAs in identifying antemortem and postmortem burns. This study compared the expression of miR-711 and miR-183-3p levels in mouse and postmortem human burned skins using RT-qPCR assay. RT-qPCR examination of burned mouse skins showed that increased miR-711 and miR-183-3p expression in comparison to intact skin tissues. The increased expressions of these two miRNAs were observed until 120 h after death in burned mouse skins, whereas no significant changes were found in postmortem burned skins. In human burned skins, the increased levels of these two miRNAs at 48 h following autopsy occurred in 19 of 26 subjects, which appeared to be related to the severity of the burn. These findings suggest that miR-711 and miR-183-3p may act as biomarkers for vital reaction of skin burn.Key pointsThis study investigated miR-711 and miR-183-3p levels in mouse and postmortem human burned skins using RT-qPCR.Increased miR-711 and miR-183-3p levels were observed in burned mouse skins.The increased expressions of these two miRNAs were observed until 120 h after death in burned mouse skin.The increased levels of these two miRNAs were observed until 48 h after autopsy in 19 of 26 forensic cases, which appeared to be related to the severity of the burn.
在法医实践中，生前烧伤和死后烧伤的鉴别至关重要。以往研究报告表明，长度在18 - 25个核苷酸之间的微小RNA（miRNA）高度稳定且抗降解。然而，关于miRNA在生前和死后烧伤鉴别中的应用研究甚少。本研究采用逆转录定量聚合酶链反应（RT-qPCR）法比较了miR-711和miR-183-3p在小鼠和死后人体烧伤皮肤中的表达。RT-qPCR检测烧伤小鼠皮肤显示，与完整皮肤组织相比，miR-711和miR-183-3p表达增加。在烧伤小鼠皮肤中，直至死亡后120小时均观察到这两种miRNA表达增加，而在死后烧伤皮肤中未发现显著变化。在人体烧伤皮肤中，尸检后48小时，26名受试者中有19名这两种miRNA水平升高，这似乎与烧伤严重程度有关。这些发现表明，miR-711和miR-183-3p可能作为皮肤烧伤生命反应的生物标志物。要点本研究采用RT-qPCR法研究了miR-711和miR-183-3p在小鼠和死后人体烧伤皮肤中的水平。在烧伤小鼠皮肤中观察到miR-711和miR-183-3p水平升高。在烧伤小鼠皮肤中，直至死亡后120小时均观察到这两种miRNA表达增加。在26例法医案例中的19例中，直至尸检后48小时均观察到这两种miRNA水平升高，这似乎与烧伤严重程度有关。
