Molecular Pathology of Pulmonary Edema in Forensic Autopsy Cases with Special Regard to Fatal Methamphetamine Intoxication |
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| Authors: | Rui Zhao Ph.D. M.D. Dong Zhao Ph.D. M.D. Ye Xue M.D. Bao‐Li Zhu Ph.D. M.D. Da‐Wei Guan Ph.D. M.D. Xiao‐Li Xie Ph.D. M.D. Qi Wang Ph.D. M.D. |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Forensic Pathology, China Medical University, School of Forensic Medicine, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China;2. Collaborative Innovation Center of Judicial Civilization, China;3. Key Laboratory of Evidence Science (China University of Political Science and Law), Ministry of Education, Haidian District, Beijing, China;4. Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China;5. Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research), Guangzhou, China |
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| 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 qBaseplus 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. |
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| Keywords: | forensic science pulmonary edema fatal methamphetamine intoxication matrix metalloproteinases intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 claudin‐5 aquaporins |
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