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Expression of human cardiac-specific genes: a novel method for post-mortem interval estimation.
Sahil Thakral1, Purvi Purohit2, Anupama Modi3
1Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, India.
Archiwum Medycyny Sadowej I Kryminologii
|January 8, 2024
Summary
Determining time since death is challenging. Analyzing cardiac gene expression, specifically N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NPPB) and cardiac troponin I (TNNI3), offers a promising new method for estimating post-mortem interval (PMI).
Area of Science:
- Forensic Medicine
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Accurate post-mortem interval (PMI) determination is crucial in legal medicine but remains challenging.
- Existing PMI estimation methods (physicochemical, entomological, biochemical, etc.) are influenced by various factors, leading to wide ranges.
- Novel molecular approaches are needed to improve PMI accuracy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of mRNA degradation and fold change expression (FCE) of cardiac-specific genes (NPPB and TNNI3) for accurate PMI estimation.
- To investigate the stability and degradation patterns of NPPB and TNNI3 gene expression in heart tissue over time post-mortem.
- To establish a novel molecular method for calculating post-mortem intervals.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of seventeen cadaver heart tissues collected at different time intervals up to 24 hours post-mortem at room temperature.
- Quantification of gene expression using the delta Ct (ΔCt) method comparing target genes (NPPB, TNNI3) with a housekeeping gene.
- Calculation of fold change expression (FCE) using the delta delta Ct (ΔΔCt) method across 7 time groups to assess gene stability.
Main Results:
- The FCE of cardiac troponin I (TNNI3) remained stable for approximately 15 hours post-mortem before declining.
- The FCE of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NPPB) remained stable for approximately 12 hours post-mortem before decreasing.
- Both NPPB and TNNI3 showed relatively stable expression profiles within the initial 12 hours post-mortem.
Conclusions:
- Analysis of FCE for cardiac-specific genes NPPB and TNNI3 presents a novel and promising method for post-mortem interval estimation.
- The stability of these cardiac gene expressions within the early post-mortem period offers a reliable window for PMI determination.
- This molecular approach could enhance the accuracy and reliability of forensic investigations requiring precise time since death estimations.
