title: Molecular Pathology of Pulmonary Edema in Forensic Autopsy Cases with Special Regard to Fatal Methamphetamine Intoxication.
abstract: Pulmonary edema is a common finding in fatal methamphetamine intoxication. However, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. This study investigated the molecular pathology of alveolar damage involving pulmonary edema in forensic autopsy cases. Seven candidate reference genes (RPL13A, YWHAZ, GUSB, SDHA, GAPDH, B2M, and ACTB) were evaluated in the lung by the geNorm module in qBaseplussoftware. RPL13A, YWHAZ, and GUSB were identified as the most stable reference genes. Using these validated reference genes, intrapulmonary mRNA expressions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), claudin-5 (CLDN-5), and aquaporins (AQPs) were examined. Relative mRNA quantification using TaqMan real-time PCR assay demonstrated higher expressions of all markers except for AQP-5 in fatal METH intoxication cases. These findings suggested alveolar damage and compensatory response in fatal METH intoxication cases. Systematic analysis of gene expressions using real-time qPCR is a useful tool in forensic death investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, National Police University of China, No. 83, Tawan Street, Huangpu District, 110035, Shenyang, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Forensic Science Centre of Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, No. 3 Beijiaochang Cross Road, Yuexiu District, 510050, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Nian
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Pathology, China Medical University, School of Forensic Medicine, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Innovation Center of Judicial Civilization, China; Key Laboratory of Evidence Science (China University of Political Science and Law), Ministry of Education, No. 25 West Tucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100088, China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, No. 1838, 510515, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Pathology, China Medical University, School of Forensic Medicine, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: Bao-Li
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Pathology, China Medical University, School of Forensic Medicine, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: Da-Wei
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research), No. 1838, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Pathology, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, No. 1838, 510515, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000506:poisoning*; D057089:Pathology, Molecular; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000473:pathology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008694:Methamphetamine
keywords: aquaporins; claudin-5; fatal methamphetamine intoxication; forensic science; intercellular adhesion molecule-1; matrix metalloproteinases; pulmonary edema