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A study on mRNA expressions of interleukin 10 during fracture healing for wound age determination
Masataka Takamiya1, Sachiko Fujita, Kiyoshi Saigusa
1Department of Legal Medicine, Iwate Medical University School of Medicine, 19-1 Uchimaru, Morioka, Iwate 020-8505, Japan. mtakamiy@iwate-med.ac.jp
Abstract:
We investigated mRNA expressions of interleukin 10 (IL-10) during fracture healing for wound age determination. Macroscopically, calluses were formed at 144 h post-injury, and thickening of the fracture edge was observed at 240 h post-injury. Slight infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages was detected at 3 h post-injury, and moderate infiltration of T and B lymphocytes was detected at 72 h post-injury. In addition, osteoblasts proliferated at 24 h post-injury. IL-10 mRNA increased immediately after the intervention and peaked at 24 h, and the expressions were detected in osteocytes before and after injury, and in osteoblasts at 3 h post-injury. Although the intensity was stable in osteocytes, that in osteoblasts was strongest at 24 h post-injury. Among inflammatory cells, the expressions were exclusively detected in macrophages. These results indicated that examinations of macroscopic and microscopic changes in fracture edges, and mRNA expressions of IL-10, would be informative for fracture healing and dating.
Insights
Investigating interleukin 10 (IL-10) mRNA expression aids in determining fracture healing time. Macroscopic and microscopic changes, alongside IL-10 levels, provide valuable insights into wound age determination.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Science
- Orthopedics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Fracture healing involves complex cellular and molecular processes.
- Accurate determination of wound age is crucial for clinical management and forensic science.
- Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is a cytokine with known roles in inflammation and tissue repair.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of interleukin 10 (IL-10) mRNA expression in fracture healing for wound age determination.
- To correlate macroscopic and microscopic changes with IL-10 expression patterns post-injury.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of macroscopic callus formation and fracture edge changes at various time points (144 h, 240 h post-injury).
- Microscopic examination of inflammatory cell infiltration (neutrophils, macrophages, T and B lymphocytes) and osteoblast proliferation.
- Quantitative assessment of IL-10 mRNA expression in osteocytes, osteoblasts, and inflammatory cells using RT-PCR.
Main Results:
- Macroscopic calluses formed by 144 h, with fracture edge thickening by 240 h.
- Inflammatory cell infiltration and osteoblast proliferation were observed within the first 72 h post-injury.
- IL-10 mRNA expression peaked at 24 h post-injury, detected in osteocytes, osteoblasts, and macrophages, with distinct temporal patterns.
Conclusions:
- Macroscopic and microscopic assessments of fracture healing, combined with IL-10 mRNA expression analysis, are effective for wound age determination.
- IL-10 expression dynamics provide a molecular marker for tracking the progression of fracture healing.
- This study highlights the utility of IL-10 as a biomarker in forensic and clinical settings for assessing injury age.
