Emanuela Locci1, Matteo Stocchero2, Antonio Noto3, Alberto Chighine3, Luca Natali3, Pietro Emanuele Napoli4, Roberto Caria3, Fabio De-Giorgio5, Matteo Nioi3, Ernesto d'Aloja3. 1. Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. elocci@unica.it. 2. Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova, Padua, Italy. 3. Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. 4. Department of Surgical Sciences, Eye Clinic, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. 5. Institute of Public Health, Section of Legal Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The estimation of the time since death, or post-mortem interval (PMI), still remains a main conundrum in forensic science. Several approaches have been so far proposed from either a qualitative or a quantitative point of view, but they still lack reliability and robustness. Recently, metabolomics has shown to be a potential tool to investigate the time-related post-mortem metabolite modifications in animal models. OBJECTIVES: Here we propose, for the first time, the use of a 1H NMR metabolomic approach for the estimation of PMI from aqueous humour (AH) in an ovine model. METHODS: AH samples were collected at different times after death (from 118 to 1429 min). 1H NMR experiments were performed and spectral data analysed by multivariate statistical tools. RESULTS: A multivariate calibration model was built to estimate PMI on the basis of the metabolite content of the samples. The model was validated with an independent test set, obtaining a prediction error of 59 min for PMI < 500 min, 104 min for PMI from 500 to 1000 min, and 118 min for PMI > 1000 min. Moreover, the metabolomic approach suggested a picture of the mechanisms underlying the post-mortem biological modifications, highlighting the role played by taurine, choline, and succinate. CONCLUSION: The time-related modifications of the 1H NMR AH metabolomic profile seem to be encouraging in addressing the issue of a reproducible and robust model to be employed for the estimation of the time since death.
INTRODUCTION: The estimation of the time since death, or post-mortem interval (PMI), still remains a main conundrum in forensic science. Several approaches have been so far proposed from either a qualitative or a quantitative point of view, but they still lack reliability and robustness. Recently, metabolomics has shown to be a potential tool to investigate the time-related post-mortem metabolite modifications in animal models. OBJECTIVES: Here we propose, for the first time, the use of a 1H NMR metabolomic approach for the estimation of PMI from aqueous humour (AH) in an ovine model. METHODS:AH samples were collected at different times after death (from 118 to 1429 min). 1H NMR experiments were performed and spectral data analysed by multivariate statistical tools. RESULTS: A multivariate calibration model was built to estimate PMI on the basis of the metabolite content of the samples. The model was validated with an independent test set, obtaining a prediction error of 59 min for PMI < 500 min, 104 min for PMI from 500 to 1000 min, and 118 min for PMI > 1000 min. Moreover, the metabolomic approach suggested a picture of the mechanisms underlying the post-mortem biological modifications, highlighting the role played by taurine, choline, and succinate. CONCLUSION: The time-related modifications of the 1H NMR AH metabolomic profile seem to be encouraging in addressing the issue of a reproducible and robust model to be employed for the estimation of the time since death.
Authors: Rajanikanta Swain; Adarsh Kumar; Jyotiranjan Sahoo; R Lakshmy; S K Gupta; D N Bhardwaj; R M Pandey Journal: J Forensic Leg Med Date: 2015-10-19 Impact factor: 1.614
Authors: Tarja Rajalahti; Reidar Arneberg; Ann C Kroksveen; Magnus Berle; Kjell-Morten Myhr; Olav M Kvalheim Journal: Anal Chem Date: 2009-04-01 Impact factor: 6.986
Authors: Elena Lendoiro; Cristina Cordeiro; María S Rodríguez-Calvo; Duarte N Vieira; José M Suárez-Peñaranda; Manuel López-Rivadulla; José I Muñoz-Barús Journal: Forensic Sci Int Date: 2012-09-13 Impact factor: 2.395
Authors: A Mayordomo-Febrer; M López-Murcia; J M Morales-Tatay; D Monleón-Salvado; M D Pinazo-Durán Journal: Exp Eye Res Date: 2014-12-03 Impact factor: 3.467
Authors: Leah S Wilk; Richelle J M Hoveling; Gerda J Edelman; Huub J J Hardy; Sebastiaan van Schouwen; Harry van Venrooij; Maurice C G Aalders Journal: Sci Adv Date: 2020-05-29 Impact factor: 14.136
Authors: Ramazan Akçan; Burak Taştekin; Mahmut Şerif Yildirim; Halit Canberk Aydogan; Necdet Sağlam Journal: Turk J Med Sci Date: 2020-08-26 Impact factor: 0.973
Authors: Michal Szeremeta; Karolina Pietrowska; Anna Niemcunowicz-Janica; Adam Kretowski; Michal Ciborowski Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2021-03-16 Impact factor: 5.923