Immunohistochemical analysis of P-Selectin as a possible marker of vitality in human cutaneous wounds

Ortiz-Rey, J.A.; Suárez-Peñaranda, J.M.; San Miguel, P.; Muñoz, J.I.; Rodríguez-Calvo, M.S.; Concheiro, L.

doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2008.02.011

« Previous Next »Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 15, Issue 6 , Pages 368-372, August 2008

Immunohistochemical analysis of P-Selectin as a possible marker of vitality in human cutaneous wounds☆☆☆

J.A. Ortiz-Rey, MD
- Department of Pathology, POVISA Hospital, Vigo, Spain
- Corresponding author. Address: Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital POVISA, Salamanca 5, 36211 Vigo, Spain. Tel.: +34 986 413 144; fax: +34 986 421 439.
J.M. Suárez-Peñaranda, MD PhD
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
P. San Miguel, MD PhD
- Department of Pathology, POVISA Hospital, Vigo, Spain
J.I. Muñoz, MD PhD
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
M.S. Rodríguez-Calvo, MD PhD
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
L. Concheiro, MD PhD
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Received 22 November 2007; received in revised form 15 January 2008; accepted 8 February 2008.

Abstract

Immunohistochemical detection of mediators of inflammation, such as P-Selectin, has been proposed to assess vitality of wounds. Forty-five incised cutaneous wounds (24 vital, 14 post-mortem, seven with induced autolysis/putrefaction) were immunostained with antibodies against P-Selectin and CD31. The percentage of stained lumina for P-Selectin out of the total of CD31 positive vessels (P-S/CD31 index) was calculated at both edges of every specimen. In vital samples, the P-S/CD31 index ranged from 10.7% to 71.4% at the wound edge, and was 12.5–58.8% for the opposite margin, with a ratio between both indices of 0.37–1.77 (mean: 0.94). In post-mortem cases, the index ranged from 22.5% to 69.2% at the wound edge, and was 28–89.5% at the opposite margin, with a ratio between both indices of 0.76–1.9 (mean: 0.96). Differences between ratios were not statistically significant and thus precluded any assessment of vitality. The analysis of P-Selectin/CD31 immunoreactivity in skin wounds was not useful for the diagnosis of vitality when evaluating both edges for each specimen. Moreover, P-Selectin has been detected in post-mortem injuries and it is not specific to vital injuries. Microscopic evaluation becomes difficult after autolysis/putrefaction.

Keywords: Forensic pathology, Vital reaction, Immunohistochemistry, Wound healing, Selectin