"Omics" and Postmortem Interval Estimation: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Biochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Accurate postmortem interval (PMI) estimation is crucial in forensic science.
• Traditional PMI methods have limitations, particularly in advanced decomposition.
• Omics sciences offer a holistic view of postmortem biochemical changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review mass-spectrometry-based omics approaches for PMI estimation.
• To elucidate molecular mechanisms of time-dependent biochemical alterations after death.
• To assess the role of omics in overcoming limitations of traditional PMI methods.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search adhering to PRISMA guidelines (PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science).
• Inclusion of experimental studies on animal or human samples using MS-based untargeted omics for PMI estimation.
• Quality assessment using STROBE and ARRIVE checklists.

Main Results:

• 26 studies were included, with 17 proteomic, 9 metabolomic, and 2 lipidomic approaches.
• Most studies focused on short PMIs (<7 days), with others examining medium (7-120 days) and long (>120 days) intervals.
• Muscle, liver, and bone tissues were the most frequently analyzed samples.

Conclusions:

• Mass-spectrometry-based omics provide promising tools for accurate PMI estimation.
• These methods reveal predictable, time-dependent degradation patterns of macromolecules.
• Further research can refine omics techniques for improved forensic applications.