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01-11-2019 | Review

Analysis of RNA in the estimation of post-mortem interval: a review of current evidence

Authors: Salvatore Scrivano, Matteo Sanavio, Pamela Tozzo, Luciana Caenazzo

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 6/2019

Abstract

Post-mortem interval (PMI) determination is one of the most important issues in forensic sciences. In the past, forensic scientists provided different approaches (physical, chemical, and entomological) for the estimation of PMI without success.

However, advances in molecular biology over the last two decades have allowed us to assess the time-dependent degradation of biological markers (e.g., proteins, DNA, and RNA). Thus, the aim of the manuscript is to provide a review of the recent progress in the estimation of PMI using molecular biology methods, mainly focusing on the potential usefulness of RNA markers. To this end, 29 studies have been systematically reviewed, each one chosen according to specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. The selected studies evaluated the contribution of endogenous reference genes in different biological samples in order to determine the PMI based on post-mortem RNA degradation as a function of other influencing factors such as time, cause of death, and environmental conditions.

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12.

Ma J, Pan H, Zeng Y, Lv Y, Zhang H, Xue A, Jiang J, Ma K, Chen L (2015) Exploration of the R code-based mathematical model for PMI estimation using profiling of RNA degradation in rat brain tissue at different temperatures. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 11(4):530–537CrossRef

13.

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15.

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18.

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19.

Chen XR, Yi SH, Yang LP et al (2007) The relationship between mRNA degradation in retina and PMI of rat after death. Chin J Forensic Med 22:169–172

20.

Ren GM, Liu J, Wang YY et al (2009) The degradation of housekeeping mRNA in dead rats by real-time RT-PCR. Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi 25:33–36PubMed

21.

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22.

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26.

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27.

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28.

Bai X, Peng D, Li Z, Tian H, Zhang L, Yang D, Peng B, Liang W (2017) Post-mortem interval (PMI) determination by profiling of HAF mRNA degradation using RT-qPCR. Forensic Sci Int: Genetics Supplement Series 6:e182–e183

29.

Li WC, Ma KJ, Zhang P, Wang HJ, Shen YW, Zhou YQ, Zhao ZQ, Ma D, Chen L (2010) Estimation of post-mortem interval using microRNA and 18S rRNA degradation in rat cardiac muscle. Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi 26(6):413–417PubMed

30.

Pan H, Zhang H, Lü YH, Ma JL, Ma KJ, Chen L (2014) Correlation between five RNA markers of rat’s skin and PMI at different temperatures. Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi 30(4):245–249PubMed

31.

Lü YH, Li ZH, Tuo Y, Liu L, Li K, Bian J, Ma JL, Chen L (2016) Correlation between RNA degradation patterns of rat’s brain and early PMI at different temperatures. Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi 32(3):165–170PubMed

32.

Lü YH, Ma KJ, Li ZH, Gu J, Bao JY, Yang ZF, Gao J, Zeng Y, Tao L, Chen L (2016) Correlation between RNA expression level and early PMI in human brain tissue. Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi 32(4):245–249PubMed

33.

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37.

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Title: Analysis of RNA in the estimation of post-mortem interval: a review of current evidence
Authors: Salvatore Scrivano
Matteo Sanavio
Pamela Tozzo
Luciana Caenazzo
Publication date: 01-11-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 6/2019
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-019-02125-x

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Analysis of RNA in the estimation of post-mortem interval: a review of current evidence

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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