Temperature-Dependent Postmortem Changes in Human Cardiac Troponin-T (cTnT): An Approach in Estimation of Time Since Death.
Estimation of time of death is an indispensible requirement of every medico-legal autopsy, but unfortunately, there is not a single method by which it could be determined accurately. This study focused on the temperature-dependent postmortem degradation of cardiac troponin-T and its association with postmortem interval (PMI) in human. The analysis involved extraction of the protein, separation by denaturing gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and visualization by Western blot using cTnT-specific monoclonal antibodies. The area of the bands within a lane was quantified by scanning and digitizing the image using Gel Doc (Universal Hood). The results indicate a characteristic banding pattern among human cadavers (n = 6) and a pseudo-linear relationship between percentage of cTnT degradation and the log of the time since death (r > 0.95), which can be used to estimate the postmortem interval. The data presented demonstrate that this technique can provide an extended time range during which PMI can be more accurately estimated.
Post Graduate Department of Pathology, King George's Medical University UP, Lucknow, India.
Sachil
S
Kumar
Post Graduate Department of Pathology, King George's Medical University UP, Lucknow, India.
Wahid
W
Ali
Post Graduate Department of Pathology, King George's Medical University UP, Lucknow, India.
Uma S
US
Singh
Post Graduate Department of Pathology, King George's Medical University UP, Lucknow, India.
Ashutosh
A
Kumar
Department of Physiology, King George's Medical University UP, Lucknow, India.
Sandeep
S
Bhattacharya
Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, King George's Medical University UP, Lucknow, India.
Anoop K
AK
Verma
Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, King George's Medical University UP, Lucknow, India.
Raja
R
Rupani
D001344:Autopsy; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D020107:Troponin T / Q000032:analysis*
D020107:Troponin T
cardiac troponin-T; degradation; forensic science; postmortem interval; proteolysis