The down-regulation of STC2 mRNA may serve as a biomarker for death from mechanical asphyxia

Yikai Hu; Liujun Han; Heng Zhang; Wencan Li; Tianpu Wu; Jianlong Ma; Dongchuan Zhang; Kaijun Ma; Bi Xiao; Yangeng Yu; Hongmei Xu; Lu Tian; Xinbiao Liao; Long Chen

doi:10.1016/j.legalmed.2023.102382

The down-regulation of STC2 mRNA may serve as a biomarker for death from mechanical asphyxia

Leg Med (Tokyo). 2024 Mar:67:102382. doi: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2023.102382. Epub 2023 Dec 23.

Authors

Yikai Hu¹, Liujun Han¹, Heng Zhang², Wencan Li³, Tianpu Wu¹, Jianlong Ma⁴, Dongchuan Zhang⁵, Kaijun Ma⁵, Bi Xiao⁵, Yangeng Yu⁶, Hongmei Xu¹, Lu Tian⁷, Xinbiao Liao⁸, Long Chen⁹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
² Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Pathology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
³ Institute of Criminal Scientific Technology, Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau Pudong Branch, Shanghai 200125, China.
⁴ Institute of Criminal Science and Technology, Investigation Department of Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau, Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Shenzhen 518040, China.
⁵ Forensic Lab, Criminal Science and Technology Institute, Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau, Shanghai 200082, China.
⁶ Institute of Forensic Science, Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Guangzhou 510050, China.
⁷ Institute of Criminal Scientific Technology, Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau Pudong Branch, Shanghai 200125, China. Electronic address: 13386281130@189.cn.
⁸ Institute of Forensic Science, Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Guangzhou 510050, China. Electronic address: liaoxinbiao@163.com.
⁹ Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China. Electronic address: chenlong@shmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 38159418
DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2023.102382

Abstract

Death from mechanical asphyxia (DMA) is a common cause of death in forensic pathology. However, due to the lack of biomarkers, the authentication of DMA now relies on a series of non-specific signs, which may cause troubles in the judicial trials, especially when the criminal scene is not fully elucidated. To search for the potential biomarkers for DMA, brain samples of DMA and craniocerebral injury groups were screened by microarray. The obtained mRNAs were validated by animal and human samples. Primary cell culture was conducted to explore the biochemical changes under hypoxia. 415 differentially expressed mRNAs between two groups were discovered. Ten mRNAs were examined in both human and animal samples died of different causes of death. Stanniocalcin-2 (STC2) showed significant down-regulation in DMA samples compared to other groups, regardless of PMI, age, or temperature. Cellular experiments indicated that ROS level peaked after 15-min-hypoxic culture, when the expression level of STC2 was significant down-regulated simultaneously. The ER-stress-related proteins also showed potential connection with STC2. In general, it is indicated that the down-regulation of STC2 may serve as a biomarker for DMA.

Keywords: Biomarker; Brain tissue; Mechanical asphyxia; STC2.

MeSH terms

Animals
Asphyxia*
Biomarkers
Down-Regulation
Glycoproteins / genetics
Glycoproteins / metabolism
Humans
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins* / genetics
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins* / metabolism
RNA, Messenger / metabolism

Substances

Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
RNA, Messenger
Glycoproteins
Biomarkers
STC2 protein, human