title: Immunohistochemical analysis on MMP-2 and MMP-9 for wound age determination.
abstract: We performed immunohistochemical study combined with morphometrical analyses in order to examine the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 using 55 human skin wounds of different ages: group I, 0-3 days (n = 16); II, 4-7 days (n = 11); III, 9-14 days (n = 16); and IV, 17-21 days (n = 12). Immunopositive reactions for MMP-2 were observed in all human skin specimens including uninjured skin as control. The number of MMP-2(+) macrophages was significantly increased in accordance with wound ages. In contrast to MMP-2, no MMP-9(+) signals were detected in uninjured and wound specimens aged less than 1 day. However, the number of MMP-9(+) macrophages profoundly appeared in groups II and III. Morphometrically, in all of wound samples aged 9-12 days, MMP-2(+) cell number was more than 20. On the contrary, most of the remaining samples had <20 positive cells. However, only one sample (a 7-day-old wound) showed 21 positive cells. Thus, with regard to practical applicability with forensic safety, MMP-2(+) macrophages of >20 would indicate a wound age of 7-12 days. Additionally, 10 out of 12 wound specimens aged 9-12 days showed the MMP-2(+) cell number of >25, implying that MMP-2(+) cell number of >25 would indicate the wound age of 9-12 days. On the contrary, all wound samples aged 3-14 days except for only one sample had MMP-9(+) cell number of >30, indicating that MMP-9(+) cell number of >30 would indicate the wound age of 3-14 days. Collectively, MMP-2 seemed to be more distinct marker, compared with MMP-9.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, 641-8509, Wakayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kuninaka
authors.forename: Mizuho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nosaka
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
authors.forename: Mizuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hama
authors.forename: Shoichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Kouhei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shinozaki
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Eisenmenger
authors.forename: Toshikazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002452:Cell Count; D002648:Child; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9