Mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics has recently attracted the attention from forensic pathologists. This work is the first report of the development of a shotgun bottom-up proteomic approach based on rapid protein extraction and nano-liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry applied to full-thickness human skin for the differential analysis of normal and ecchymotic tissues to identify new biomarkers for bruise characterization and dating. We identified around 2000 proteins from each pooled extract. The method showed excellent precision on independent replicates, with Pearson correlation coefficients always higher than 95%. Glycophorin A, a known biomarker of vital wounds from immunochemical studies, was identified only in ecchymotic tissues, as confirmed by Western blotting analysis. This finding suggests that this protein can be used as a MS-detectable biomarker of wound vitality. By focusing on skin samples from individuals with known wound dating, besides Glycophorin A, other proteins differentially expressed in ecchymotic samples and dependant on wound age were identified, although further analysis on larger datasets are needed to validate these findings. This study paves the way for an in-depth investigation of the potential of MS-based techniques for wound examination in forensic pathology, overcoming the limitations of immunochemical assays.

Mass spectrometry-based proteomic strategy for ecchymotic skin examination in forensic pathology / Toma, Lorenzo; Vignali, Giulia; Maffioli, Elisa; Tambuzzi, Stefano; Giaccari, Roberta; Mattarozzi, Monica; Nonnis, Simona; Milioli, Marco; Franceschetti, Lorenzo; Paredi, Gianluca; Negri, Armando; Riccardi, Benedetta; Cattaneo, Cristina; Careri, Maria; Tedeschi, Gabriella; Bruno, Stefano. - In: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. - ISSN 2045-2322. - 13:1(2023). [10.1038/s41598-023-32520-9]

Mass spectrometry-based proteomic strategy for ecchymotic skin examination in forensic pathology

Lorenzo Toma;Roberta Giaccari;Monica Mattarozzi
;
Marco Milioli;Gianluca Paredi;Maria Careri;Stefano Bruno
2023-01-01

Abstract

Mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics has recently attracted the attention from forensic pathologists. This work is the first report of the development of a shotgun bottom-up proteomic approach based on rapid protein extraction and nano-liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry applied to full-thickness human skin for the differential analysis of normal and ecchymotic tissues to identify new biomarkers for bruise characterization and dating. We identified around 2000 proteins from each pooled extract. The method showed excellent precision on independent replicates, with Pearson correlation coefficients always higher than 95%. Glycophorin A, a known biomarker of vital wounds from immunochemical studies, was identified only in ecchymotic tissues, as confirmed by Western blotting analysis. This finding suggests that this protein can be used as a MS-detectable biomarker of wound vitality. By focusing on skin samples from individuals with known wound dating, besides Glycophorin A, other proteins differentially expressed in ecchymotic samples and dependant on wound age were identified, although further analysis on larger datasets are needed to validate these findings. This study paves the way for an in-depth investigation of the potential of MS-based techniques for wound examination in forensic pathology, overcoming the limitations of immunochemical assays.
2023
Mass spectrometry-based proteomic strategy for ecchymotic skin examination in forensic pathology / Toma, Lorenzo; Vignali, Giulia; Maffioli, Elisa; Tambuzzi, Stefano; Giaccari, Roberta; Mattarozzi, Monica; Nonnis, Simona; Milioli, Marco; Franceschetti, Lorenzo; Paredi, Gianluca; Negri, Armando; Riccardi, Benedetta; Cattaneo, Cristina; Careri, Maria; Tedeschi, Gabriella; Bruno, Stefano. - In: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. - ISSN 2045-2322. - 13:1(2023). [10.1038/s41598-023-32520-9]
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11381/2941311
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 3
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 3
social impact