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Wound Vitality in Decomposed Bodies: New Frontiers Through Immunohistochemistry
Giuseppe Bertozzi1, Michela Ferrara1, Raffaele La Russa1
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
Insights
Immunohistochemistry can determine wound vitality in decomposed bodies, even after 15 days of putrefaction. Glycophorin-A (GPA) showed the most reliability among tested markers for forensic analysis.
Area of Science:
- Forensic pathology
- Immunohistochemistry
- Postmortem analysis
Background:
- Wound vitality and age estimation are key forensic science challenges.
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a common technique, but tissue degradation limits its use in decomposed bodies.
- Further studies are needed to assess IHC efficacy on putrefied tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the immunohistochemical markers in decomposed tissues.
- To correlate IHC findings with wound vitality and postmortem interval.
- To assess the reliability of IHC for decomposed bodies.
Main Methods:
- Skin and soft tissue samples from decomposed bodies with traumatic deaths were collected.
- Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using antibodies against CD15, CD45, IL-15, tryptase, glycophorin-A, MMP-2, and MMP-9.
- IHC reactions were evaluated qualitatively (0 to +++).
Main Results:
- Most markers (tryptase, glycophorin, IL15, CD15, CD45, MMP9) were highly expressed in putrefied skin up to 15 days.
- Glycophorin-A (GPA) demonstrated significant reliability.
Conclusions:
- A combined use of multiple antibodies can help verify wound vitality in decomposed bodies.
- GPA shows promise as a reliable marker for wound vitality assessment in forensic pathology.
- Further research is warranted to confirm these findings.
Abstract:
Background: The question about wound vitality and the estimation of wound age of production are two of the classic investigation fields of forensic sciences. To answer this, the techniques most frequently used in research studies are immunohistochemistry (IHC), molecular biology, and biochemistry. Despite the great data on the literature about the usefulness of IHC in forensic pathology, there is always a request for further studies, especially on tissues altered by putrefactive phenomena. In fact, the degradation of the tissues is intended as the main limiting factor to the use of this technique. Scope: The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical behavior of samples collected from decomposed bodies (in different putrefaction phases) and to relate these findings to wound vitality and postmortem interval. Materials and Methods: Samples of skin and soft tissues were collected during autopsies, which were executed on decomposed bodies, whose cause of death was concluded to be traumatic. An immunohistochemical study was performed using antibodies against CD15, CD45, IL-15, tryptase, and glycophorin-A MMPs (endopeptidases involved in degrading extracellular matrix proteins: MMP-9 and MMP-2). An immunohistochemistry (IHC) reaction was evaluated according to a qualitative method as the following legend: (0): not expressed, (+): isolated and disseminated expression, (++): expression in groups or widespread foci, and (+++): widespread expression. Results: Most of the tested markers (tryptase, glycophorin, IL15, CD 15, CD 45, and MMP9) showed to be highly expressed in the tissue of putrefied skin for 15 days. Discussion and Conclusion: Although certainly inconclusive, this experimental application demonstrated that a nonexclusive but combined use of multiple antibodies is appropriate to verify wound vitality in decomposed bodies. Among them, GPA exhibited major reliability.
