title: Auto-fluorescence emitted from the cell residues preserved in human tissues of medieval Korean mummies.
abstract: As a significant association has been established between residual ancient DNA (aDNA) and histological preservation, the morphological identification or confirmation of preserved cell residue in ancient tissues would greatly facilitate aDNA studies and enhance the definitiveness of their conclusions. However, morphological differentiation of cell residue from other tissue structures has always been difficult, even for experienced histologists, due to the severe degradation of cells over long burial durations. In the present study, using a fluorescence microscopy equipped with a specific type of filter set (excitation filter, 510-550 nm; dichroic mirror, 570 nm; emission filter, approximately 590 nm), we found that certain structures in well-preserved mummified tissues emitted auto-fluorescence. Those structures were actually cell residues (e.g. fragmented DNA), laser capture microdissection and Quantifiler kit analysis having shown that preservation of nuclear DNA correlates with auto-fluorescence emission in laser capture microdissection-captured areas. Detection of auto-fluorescence could be an effective means of identifying cell residues in ancient tissue, enabling selection of the well-preserved samples necessary in successful aDNA studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Hygiene, Eulji University, Sungnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Do-Seon
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Chang Seok
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Sang Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology; D042282:Microdissection / Q000379:methods; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D009106:Mummies / Q000473:pathology*; D010164:Paleopathology
references.citation: Histochemie. 1966;7(4):335-8
references.pmid: 5959519
references.citation: Nat Rev Genet. 2001 May;2(5):353-9
references.pmid: 11331901
references.citation: Cell Mol Life Sci. 2002 Jan;59(1):97-111
references.pmid: 11846037
references.citation: Am J Phys Anthropol. 2005 Jan;126(1):32-47
references.pmid: 15386245
references.citation: J Histochem Cytochem. 1964 Jun;12:451-61
references.pmid: 14200763
references.citation: Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1977 Jun 20;76(4):1124-9
references.pmid: 901463
references.citation: Proc Biol Sci. 2005 Jan 7;272(1558):3-16
references.pmid: 15875564
references.citation: Biull Eksp Biol Med. 1977 Apr;83(4):503-4
references.pmid: 66953
references.citation: Ann Anat. 2009 Jun;191(3):309-20
references.pmid: 19345566
references.citation: Forensic Sci Int. 2003 Nov 26;137(2-3):172-82
references.pmid: 14609654
references.citation: Cardiovasc Res. 1969 Apr;3(2):161-70
references.pmid: 5346452
references.citation: Biotechnol Annu Rev. 2005;11:227-56
references.pmid: 16216779
references.citation: J Anat. 2006 Nov;209(5):671-80
references.pmid: 17062023