Molecular Pathology of Pulmonary Edema in Forensic Autopsy Cases with Special Regard to Fatal Methamphetamine Intoxication

Yu Du; Hong-Nian Jin; Rui Zhao; Dong Zhao; Ye Xue; Bao-Li Zhu; Da-Wei Guan; Xiao-Li Xie; Qi Wang

doi:10.1111/1556-4029.13199

Molecular Pathology of Pulmonary Edema in Forensic Autopsy Cases with Special Regard to Fatal Methamphetamine Intoxication

J Forensic Sci. 2016 Nov;61(6):1531-1537. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.13199. Epub 2016 Sep 21.

Authors

Yu Du¹, Hong-Nian Jin², Rui Zhao³, Dong Zhao⁴, Ye Xue⁵, Bao-Li Zhu³, Da-Wei Guan³, Xiao-Li Xie⁶, Qi Wang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Forensic Medicine, National Police University of China, No. 83, Tawan Street, Huangpu District, 110035, Shenyang, China.
² Forensic Science Centre of Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, No. 3 Beijiaochang Cross Road, Yuexiu District, 510050, Guangzhou, China.
³ Department of Forensic Pathology, China Medical University, School of Forensic Medicine, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.
⁴ Collaborative Innovation Center of Judicial Civilization, China; Key Laboratory of Evidence Science (China University of Political Science and Law), Ministry of Education, No. 25 West Tucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100088, China.
⁵ Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, No. 1838, 510515, Guangzhou, China.
⁶ Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research), No. 1838, Guangzhou, 510515, China.

PMID: 27651022
DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13199

Abstract

Pulmonary edema is a common finding in fatal methamphetamine intoxication. However, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. This study investigated the molecular pathology of alveolar damage involving pulmonary edema in forensic autopsy cases. Seven candidate reference genes (RPL13A, YWHAZ, GUSB, SDHA, GAPDH, B2M, and ACTB) were evaluated in the lung by the geNorm module in qBase^plus software. RPL13A, YWHAZ, and GUSB were identified as the most stable reference genes. Using these validated reference genes, intrapulmonary mRNA expressions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), claudin-5 (CLDN-5), and aquaporins (AQPs) were examined. Relative mRNA quantification using TaqMan real-time PCR assay demonstrated higher expressions of all markers except for AQP-5 in fatal METH intoxication cases. These findings suggested alveolar damage and compensatory response in fatal METH intoxication cases. Systematic analysis of gene expressions using real-time qPCR is a useful tool in forensic death investigation.

Keywords: aquaporins; claudin-5; fatal methamphetamine intoxication; forensic science; intercellular adhesion molecule-1; matrix metalloproteinases; pulmonary edema.

MeSH terms

Autopsy*
Central Nervous System Stimulants / poisoning*
Humans
Methamphetamine / poisoning*
Pathology, Molecular*
Pulmonary Edema / pathology*
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

Central Nervous System Stimulants
Methamphetamine