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01-05-2014 | Original Article

Molecular pathology of brain matrix metalloproteases, claudin5, and aquaporins in forensic autopsy cases with special regard to methamphetamine intoxication

Authors: Qi Wang, Takaki Ishikawa, Tomomi Michiue, Bao-Li Zhu, Da-Wei Guan, Hitoshi Maeda

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 3/2014

Abstract

Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly addictive drug of abuse and toxic to the brain. Recent studies indicated that besides direct damage to dopamine and 5-HT terminals, neurotoxicity of METH may also result from its ability to modify the structure of blood-brain barrier (BBB). The present study investigated the postmortem brain mRNA and immunohistochemical expressions of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), claudin5 (CLDN5), and aquaporins (AQPs) in forensic autopsy cases of carbon monoxide (n = 14), METH (n = 21), and phenobarbital (n = 17) intoxication, compared with mechanical asphyxia (n = 15), brain injury (n = 11), non-brain injury (n = 21), and sharp instrument injury (n = 15) cases. Relative mRNA quantification using Taqman real-time PCR assay demonstrated higher expression of AQP4 and MMP9, lower expression of CLDN5 in METH intoxication cases and lower expression of MMP2 in phenobarbital intoxication cases. Immunostaining results showed substantial interindividual variations in each group, showing no evident differences in distribution or intensity among all the causes of death. These findings suggest that METH may increase BBB permeability by altering CLDN5 and MMP9, and the self-protective system maybe activated to eliminate accumulating water from the extracellular space of the brain by up-regulating AQP4. Systematic analysis of gene expressions using real-time PCR may be a useful procedure in forensic death investigation.

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Title: Molecular pathology of brain matrix metalloproteases, claudin5, and aquaporins in forensic autopsy cases with special regard to methamphetamine intoxication
Authors: Qi Wang
Takaki Ishikawa
Tomomi Michiue
Bao-Li Zhu
Da-Wei Guan
Hitoshi Maeda
Publication date: 01-05-2014
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 3/2014
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-014-0972-6

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Molecular pathology of brain matrix metalloproteases, claudin5, and aquaporins in forensic autopsy cases with special regard to methamphetamine intoxication

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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