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Updated: Jun 27, 2025
Long-term Intravital Immunofluorescence Imaging of Tissue Matrix Components with Epifluorescence and Two-photon Microscopy
Published on: April 22, 2014
Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in human skin within 1 hour after injury through immunohistochemical
Rossana Cecchi1, Tomoya Ikeda2, Jessika Camatti3
1University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Abstract:
Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is involved in tissue remodeling and in skin wound healing. The present study focuses on the MMP-9 expression in epidermal wound healing within 1 h after injury, to test whether MMP-9 can be used to estimate the time of injury in forensic practice.A sample consisting of 5 individuals undergoing surgery was analyzed. With the consent of the patients, sections of skin were removed from the surgical wound at predefined time intervals. For each subject, 8 sections were taken, one for each time interval defined at 0 '- 1' - 3 '- 5' - 10 '- 15' - 30 '- 60' minutes. The specimens were immunostained with MMP-9, and the number of positively stained cells was examined.The number of positively stained cells showed an increasing trend as a function of time. Less than 30 positively stained cells were found in all cases within 3 min. At the post-infliction time of 5 min, the number of positively stained cells exceeded 30 in 3 out of 5 cases. The number of MMP-positive cells exceeded 40 in all cases in over 10 min.In the light of these results, the count of MMP-9 positive cells might be a useful marker in the wound-age estimation within 1 h in forensic setting. More research is required to collect more samples and to compare samples from the hyperacute phase with those from several days after injury.
Insights
Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is a potential biomarker for estimating skin wound age. MMP-9 positive cell counts increase over time, offering a forensic tool for hyperacute injury assessment.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Science
- Dermatology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) plays a role in tissue remodeling and skin wound healing.
- Accurate wound age estimation is crucial in forensic investigations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate MMP-9 expression in epidermal wound healing within the first hour post-injury.
- To determine if MMP-9 can serve as a marker for estimating time of injury in forensic practice.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of skin biopsy samples from 5 surgical patients at predefined time intervals (0-60 minutes).
- Immunohistochemical staining for MMP-9.
- Quantification of positively stained cells.
Main Results:
- A time-dependent increase in positively stained MMP-9 cells was observed.
- Fewer than 30 positive cells were found within 3 minutes.
- Over 30 positive cells were detected by 5 minutes in most cases.
- More than 40 positive cells were consistently found after 10 minutes.
Conclusions:
- MMP-9 positive cell count may be a useful marker for estimating wound age within the first hour post-injury in forensic settings.
- Further research with larger sample sizes and comparison with later time points is warranted.
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