title: Multiplex mRNA profiling for the identification of body fluids.
abstract: We report the development of a multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method for the definitive identification of the body fluids that are commonly encountered in forensic casework analysis, namely blood, saliva, semen, and vaginal secretions. Using selected genes that we have identified as being expressed in a tissue-specific manner we have developed a multiplex RT-PCR assay which is composed of eight body fluid-specific genes and that is optimized for the detection of blood, saliva, semen, and vaginal secretions as single or mixed stains. The genes include beta-spectrin (SPTB) and porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD) for blood, statherin (STATH) and histatin 3 (HTN3) for saliva, protamine 1 (PRM1) and protamine 2 (PRM2) for semen, and human beta-defensin 1 (HBD-1) and mucin 4 (MUC4) for vaginal secretions. The known or presumed functions of these genes suggest an extremely restricted pattern of gene expression, which is a basic requirement for incorporation into a tissue-specific assay. The methodology is based upon gene expression profiling analysis in which the body fluid-specific genes are identified by detecting the presence of appropriate mRNA species using capillary electrophoresis/laser induced fluorescence. An mRNA-based approach, such as the multiplex RT-PCR method described in the present work, allows for the facile identification of the tissue components present in a body fluid stain and could supplant the battery of serological and biochemical tests currently employed in the forensic serology laboratory.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Biomolecular Sciences, University of Central Florida, P.O. Box 162366, Orlando, FL 32816-2366, USA.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Juusola
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ballantyne
mesh_terms: D001769:Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005819:Genetic Markers; D054808:Histatins; D006801:Humans; D011163:Hydroxymethylbilane Synthase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism; D055264:Mucin-4; D009077:Mucins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011479:Protamines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013049:Spectrin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism*; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; C406407:DEFB1 protein, human; D005819:Genetic Markers; C068075:HTN3 protein, human; D054808:Histatins; C524658:MUC4 protein, human; D055264:Mucin-4; D009077:Mucins; C082073:PRM1 protein, human; D011479:Protamines; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C018149:STATH protein, human; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D023083:beta-Defensins; C068621:protamine 2; D013049:Spectrin; C025667:prothrombin complex concentrates; D011163:Hydroxymethylbilane Synthase; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7