Bone Marrow-Derived Cells and Wound Age Estimation

Abstract

Appropriate technology as well as specific target cells and molecules are key factors for determination of wound vitality or wound age in forensic practice. Wound examination is one of the most important tasks for forensic pathologists and is indispensable to distinguish antemortem wounds from postmortem damage. For vital wounds, estimating the age of the wound is also essential in determining how the wound is associated with the cause of death. We investigated bone marrow-derived cells as promising markers and their potential usefulness in forensic applications. Although examination of a single marker cannot provide high reliability and objectivity in estimating wound age, evaluating the appearance combination of bone marrow-derived cells and the other markers may allow for a more objective and accurate estimation of wound age.

Keywords: bone marrow-derived cells; hematopoietic stem cells; mesenchymal stem cells; skin wound; wound age; wound healing.

Figure 1

Changes in BMDCs to macrophages in wound tissue. BM-HSCs toward M1/M2 macrophages in injured tissue.

Figure 2

Mechanistic roles of MSCs in the skin wound healing. Mechanisms of acceleration of wound healing by MSCs; (i) activation of keratinocytes and fibroblasts, (ii) increase in angiogenesis and neovascularization, (iii) increase in M2 macrophages infiltration, (iv) recruitment of stem/progenitor cells, (v) secretion of cytokines and growth factors, (vi) production of ECM, (vii) decrease in inflammatory cytokine levels by immunosuppressive effects, and (viii) differentiation into endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and keratinocytes.