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[Temporal relation of transforming growth factor-beta1 mRNA expression with injury in the healing process of mouse
Xue-feng Li1, hui-Jun Wang, Hong Luo
1Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Objective:
To explore the time-related expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)- beta(1) mRNA in the healing process of mouse skin wounds and its potential application in forensic wound age estimation.
Methods:
Real-time PCR was used to quantify TGF-beta(1) mRNA expression in mouse skin wounds induced at different time points (15 min to 2 weeks before and 1 to 6 h after death). The expression of GAPDH was also detected for normalization of TGF-beta(1) mRNA level.
Results:
TGF-beta(1) mRNA in the antemortem wounds was elevated significantly 24 h after the injury (P<0.01 by Dunnet test) and maintained the high level at 48 and 72 h. In postmortem wounds, TGF-beta(1) mRNA tended to increase 1 and 3 h after injury, and decreased to the control level at 6 h.
Conclusions:
The expression of TGF-beta(1) mRNA is closely related to the time of wound and can therefore be used as a representative cytokine marker for dating the skin wounds induced over 6 h before death. Real-time PCR for detecting dynamic expression of TGF-beta(1) mRNA in wound healing process provides a reliable means for qualitative and quantitative cytokine analysis for forensic wound age estimation.
Insights
Transforming growth factor-beta(1) mRNA levels indicate wound age. This cytokine marker is reliable for estimating skin wound age over 6 hours before death using real-time PCR.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Forensic Science
- Wound Healing Research
Context:
- Accurate wound age estimation is crucial in forensic investigations.
- Understanding the temporal dynamics of molecular markers in wound healing is essential.
- Transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-β1) is a key cytokine in tissue repair.
Purpose:
- To investigate the time-dependent expression of TGF-β1 mRNA in healing mouse skin wounds.
- To evaluate the utility of TGF-β1 mRNA as a biomarker for forensic wound age estimation.
Summary:
- Real-time PCR quantified TGF-β1 mRNA in wounds created at various times before and after death.
- Antemortem wounds showed significantly elevated TGF-β1 mRNA levels from 24 hours post-injury onwards.
- Postmortem wounds exhibited a transient increase in TGF-β1 mRNA within the first 3 hours.
Impact:
- TGF-β1 mRNA expression correlates with wound age, particularly for wounds older than 6 hours.
- Real-time PCR analysis of TGF-β1 mRNA provides a reliable method for qualitative and quantitative cytokine analysis.
- This research offers a valuable tool for forensic science in determining the time of injury.
