The expression of 10 candidate specific microRNA markers for human body fluid identification in animal buccal swabs. (July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peng, Duo; Wang, Ningbao; Li, Zhilong; Tian, Huan; Liang, Weibo; Zhang, Lin
• Is Part Of: Forensic science international. Volume 300(2019)
• Page Start: e44
• Page End: e49
• Publication Date: 2019-07
• Subjects: Forensic -- Body fluids identification -- MicroRNA markers -- Species specificity -- Animal buccal swabs; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Forensic -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine légale -- Périodiques; Chimie légale -- Périodiques; Gerechtelijke geneeskunde; Gerechtelijke chemie; Gerechtelijke psychiatrie; Chemistry, Forensic; Medical jurisprudence; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.04.036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0379-0738

Abstract

Highlights: We quantified species specificity of 10 miRNA markers in 8 daily animal buccal swabs by SYBR Green quantitative PCR. MiRNA markers miR-200c, 205 and 658 were not specific for human saliva. MiRNA markers miR-124a and 372 were not specific for human vaginal secretion swabs. Species tests were strongly suggested before human body identification with miRNA markers. Abstract: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been of interest in forensic science for body fluid identification with recent years. However, there is no study investigating the species specificity of miRNA markers by the SYBR Green method. Due to the conservation of miRNAs across species, miRNA markers maybe less species-specific than mRNA markers, and in forensic cases, animal buccal swabs are more likely to appear. Therefore, in this study we addressed the influence of 8 kinds of animal buccal swabs on human saliva, semen, vaginal secretion swabs and blood identification with 10 candidate specific miRNA markers by the SYBR Green quantitative PCR. Our data showed that the expression levels of the candidate specific miRNA markers miR-124a and 372 in the cat, dog, mouse and rabbit buccal swabs were in the same range as the human vaginal secretion swabs; buccal swabs from these animals also showed similar expression levels to human saliva for the candidate specific miRNA markers miR-200c, 205 and 658. These results indicated that biomaterials of buccal swabs from cats, dogs, mice and rabbits may be mistaken for human saliva or human vaginal secretion swabs, both of which could result in false positives for human body fluids. Thus, the interpretation of these miRNA profiles for human body fluid identification can be inaccurate in the presence of these animal buccal swabs. Therefore, we suggested performing species tests before human body identification with miRNA markers.