Differentially expressed microRNAs as potential markers for vital reaction of burned skin

Abstract

The identification of antemortem burns and postmortem burns is essential in forensic practice. In this study, microRNA (miRNA) microarray analysis was conducted to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in the skin of an experimental burn model. Microarray analysis revealed 24 differentially expressed miRNAs in antemortem burned mice skin, with 19 miRNAs significantly upregulated and 5 downregulated. Based on the intersection predicted using three databases (Targetscan, microRNA.org, and PITA), 293 potential miRNA targets were identified. These dysregulated miRNAs and their predicted targets were further analyzed using the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes databases. Several functional categories and signaling pathways were enriched, including the “fc epsilon ri signaling pathway,” “endometrial cancer,” and “mTOR signaling pathway.” Expression patterns of 10 differentially expressed miRNAs were verified by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction in mice skins. The results agreed with the results of microarray analysis. These findings suggest that differentially expressed miRNAs revealed by microarray are potential markers for forensic molecular diagnosis of antemortem burns.

Keywords

• Forensic pathology
• microRNA microarray
• skin burns
• vital reaction