The EpiTect Methyl qPCR Assay as novel age estimation method in forensic biology.
Human aging is associated with epigenetic modification of the genome. DNA methylation at cytosines appears currently as the best characterised modification that occurs during the mammalian lifetime. Such methylation changes at regulatory region can provide insights to track contributor age for criminal investigation. The EpiTect Methyl II PCR system (QIAGEN) was used to compare methylation levels of CpG islands in the promoter regions of a number of age related genes, of which four successfully showed changes across the lifespan (NPTX2, KCNQ1DN, GRIA2 and TRIM58). This technique is based on the detection of remaining input genome after digestion with a methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme. This study examined DNA specimens from 80 female subjects of various ages (18-91 years) obtained from blood, using primers designed to flank the studied gene loci. The data obtained from DNA methylation quantification showed successful discrimination among volunteered ages. Overall, the difference between predicted and real age was about 11 years and absolute mean differences (AMD) was only 7.2 years error. We suggest the EpiTect system can be used as fast and simple innovative tool in future forensic age estimation.
Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G4 0RE, Scotland, UK. Electronic address: shakhawan.mawlood@strath.ac.uk.
Shakhawan K
SK
Mawlood
Technology and Innovation Centre, Department of Pure & Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, 99 George Street, Glasgow G1 1RD, Scotland, UK. Electronic address: lynn.dennany@strath.ac.uk.
Lynn
L
Dennany
Centre for Forensic Science, University of Strathclyde, UK.
Nigel
N
Watson
Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences (SIPBS) Building, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G4 0RE, UK. Electronic address: benjamin.pickard@strath.ac.uk.
Benjamin S
BS
Pickard
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000235:genetics; D018899:CpG Islands / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051657:KCNQ1 Potassium Channel / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000235:genetics; D000070584:Tripartite Motif Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult; D000099153:Pentraxins
D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D051657:KCNQ1 Potassium Channel; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D000070584:Tripartite Motif Proteins; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D000099153:Pentraxins; C496909:KCNQ1 protein, human; C000593618:Trim58 protein, mouse; C104722:glutamate receptor ionotropic, AMPA 2
Aging; CpG Island; DNA methylation; Epigenetics; Gene promoter; Methylation-sensitive restriction