Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2)--a promising approach to diagnosis of forensic types of hypoxia-ischemia.

Abstract

The loss of neuronal immunoreactivity of the cytoskeletal microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) is known to be a marker of--at least--transient functional failure of neurons following ischemia. Because there are no specific neuropathological findings in forensic types of acute hypoxia-ischemia, detection of this relevant cause of death is often complicated and a reliable ischemic biomarker would be of great importance. We therefore investigated the neuronal immunoreactivity of MAP2 in human cases of forensic significance. A control group (n=27) was compared to a group of cases of hypoxia-ischemia (n=45), comprising death due to hanging (n=19), drowning (n=14) and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning (n=12). Using immunohistochemical staining, the percentage of MAP2-positive neurons in the hippocampus (areas CA1-CA4) and frontal cortex (layers II-VI) was evaluated and compared. The hypoxia-ischemia group showed decreased MAP2 immunostaining in the hippocampal areas CA2-CA4 (P<0.05) and in cortical layers II-VI (P<0.001) compared to controls. Most vulnerable regions seem to be the hippocampal CA4 area and cortical layers III-V. Within the hypoxia-ischemia group, death due to CO poisoning was characterized by the lowest MAP2 immunoreactivity. The hypoxic-ischemic groups differ from controls by a distinct decrease of MAP2 immunostaining. Thus, the loss of MAP2 immunoreactivity may support the diagnosis of neuronal injury in forensic types of hypoxia-ischemia, although investigations on postmortem tissue must be interpreted cautiously.

• Authors: Johanna Kühn, Christoph Meissner, Manfred Oehmichen
• Journal: Acta neuropathologica (Acta Neuropathol) Vol. 110 Issue 6 Pg. 579-86 (Dec 2005) ISSN: 0001-6322 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 16328528 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• MAP2 protein, human
• Microtubule-Associated Proteins

Topics

• Adult
• Biomarkers (metabolism)
• Female
• Forensic Medicine
• Humans
• Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain (diagnosis, metabolism)
• Immunohistochemistry
• Male
• Microtubule-Associated Proteins (metabolism)
• Neurons (metabolism, pathology)
• Sensitivity and Specificity