Potential Role of mRNA in Estimating Postmortem Interval: A Systematic Review
Vincenzo Cianci1, Cristina Mondello1, Daniela Sapienza1
1Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 1, 98125 Messina, Italy.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|August 10, 2024
Summary
Estimating time since death using messenger RNA (mRNA) degradation shows promise for forensic pathology. Specific mRNA markers in tissues like the heart and brain may improve postmortem interval (PMI) accuracy, especially in early stages.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Medicine
- Molecular Biology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Accurate postmortem interval (PMI) estimation is crucial in forensic medicine but faces significant methodological limitations.
- Current PMI determination methods require improvement to overcome existing challenges in forensic pathology.
- Messenger RNA (mRNA) degradation is being investigated as a potential biomarker for more precise PMI estimation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the literature on the correlation between mRNA degradation and PMI estimation.
- To evaluate the current state of knowledge regarding mRNA as a tool for forensic investigations.
- To identify promising mRNA markers and suitable biological matrices for PMI analysis.
Main Methods:
- Conducted an evidence-based systematic literature review.
- Searched electronic databases PubMed and Scopus for relevant studies.
- Analyzed findings focusing on mRNA degradation patterns and PMI correlation.
Main Results:
- Confirmed the potential of mRNA degradation for improving PMI estimation accuracy.
- Identified specific mRNAs (e.g., β-actin, GAPDH) as useful indicators, particularly within the first few days postmortem.
- Highlighted stable tissues like the heart, brain, and dental pulp as optimal matrices for analysis.
Conclusions:
- mRNA degradation offers a promising avenue for more precise postmortem interval estimation in forensic science.
- Further research with larger sample sizes and standardized methodologies is essential for validation.
- Addressing limitations such as short time frames, lack of mathematical models, and error rate reporting is critical for clinical application.
Keywords:
PMI estimationRNA degradationforensic pathologyforensic sciencesmRNA degradationpostmortem interval estimationMore Related Videos
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