title: Postmortem interval estimation: a novel approach utilizing gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-based biochemical profiling.
abstract: While the molecular mechanisms underlying postmortem change have been exhaustively investigated, the establishment of an objective and reliable means for estimating postmortem interval (PMI) remains an elusive feat. In the present study, we exploit low molecular weight metabolites to estimate postmortem interval in mice. After sacrifice, serum and muscle samples were procured from C57BL/6J mice (n = 52) at seven predetermined postmortem intervals (0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h). After extraction and isolation, low molecular weight metabolites were measured via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and examined via semi-quantification studies. Then, PMI prediction models were generated for each of the 175 and 163 metabolites identified in muscle and serum, respectively, using a non-linear least squares curve fitting program. A PMI estimation panel for muscle and serum was then erected which consisted of 17 (9.7%) and 14 (8.5%) of the best PMI biomarkers identified in muscle and serum profiles demonstrating statistically significant correlations between metabolite quantity and PMI. Using a single-blinded assessment, we carried out validation studies on the PMI estimation panels. Mean ± standard deviation for accuracy of muscle and serum PMI prediction panels was -0.27 ± 2.88 and -0.89 ± 2.31 h, respectively. Ultimately, these studies elucidate the utility of metabolomic profiling in PMI estimation and pave the path toward biochemical profiling studies involving human samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-2 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, 650-0017, Japan. kaszynski@m.u-tokyo.ac.jp.|Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8654, Japan. kaszynski@m.u-tokyo.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Kaszynski
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, 650-0017, Japan.
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishiumi
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, 650-0017, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, 650-0017, Japan.|Division of Metabolomics Research, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, 650-0017, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-2 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, 650-0017, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-2 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, 650-0017, Japan.
authors.forename: Motonori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Toon, Ehime, 791-0295, Japan.
authors.forename: Migiwa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-2 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, 650-0017, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ueno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011180:Postmortem Changes
keywords: GC-MS; Metabolomics; Postmortem interval (PMI); Time of death