[Temporal relation of transforming growth factor-beta1 mRNA expression with injury in the healing process of mouse skin wounds].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the time-related expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)- beta(1) mRNA in the healing process of mouse skin wounds and its potential application in forensic wound age estimation.


METHODS
Real-time PCR was used to quantify TGF-beta(1) mRNA expression in mouse skin wounds induced at different time points (15 min to 2 weeks before and 1 to 6 h after death). The expression of GAPDH was also detected for normalization of TGF-beta(1) mRNA level.


RESULTS
TGF-beta(1) mRNA in the antemortem wounds was elevated significantly 24 h after the injury (P<0.01 by Dunnet test) and maintained the high level at 48 and 72 h. In postmortem wounds, TGF-beta(1) mRNA tended to increase 1 and 3 h after injury, and decreased to the control level at 6 h.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of TGF-beta(1) mRNA is closely related to the time of wound and can therefore be used as a representative cytokine marker for dating the skin wounds induced over 6 h before death. Real-time PCR for detecting dynamic expression of TGF-beta(1) mRNA in wound healing process provides a reliable means for qualitative and quantitative cytokine analysis for forensic wound age estimation.
Li
Xue-feng
XF
Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Wang
hui-Jun
hJ
Luo
Hong
H
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D013997:Time Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta