HMGB1: A new marker for estimation of the postmortem interval

Abstract

Estimation of the postmortem interval (PMIPMIPMI) is one of the most important tasks in forensic medicine. Numerous methods have been proposed for the determination of the time since death by chemical means. High mobility group box-1 (HMHMGB1), a nonhistone DNADNADNA-binding protein is released by eukaryotic cells upon necrosis. Postmortem serum levels of HMGB1 of 90 male Wistar rats stored at 4, 14 and 24 °C since death were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The serum HMHMGB1 level showed a time-dependent increase up to seven days at 4 °C. At 14 °C, the HMGB1 level peaked at day 3, decreased at day 4, and then plateaued. At 24 °C, the HMHMGB1 level peaked at day 2, decreased at day 3, and then plateaued. Our findings suggest that HMGB1 is related to the PMIPMIPMI in rats.