Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42213170›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of legal medicine2026

Forensic application of CAMP expression for the determination of wound vitality in human compressed neck skin.

Wei Zhang, Yuko Ishida, Yumi Kuninaka, Akiko Ishigami, Mizuho Nosaka, Akihiko Kimura, Hiroki Yamamoto, Miyu Osako, Reiko Matsuki, Toshikazu Kondo

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Article in International journal of legal medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

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10 authors.

Wei ZhangDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan.
Yuko IshidaDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan. iyuko@wakayama-med.ac.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6104-7599
Yumi KuninakaDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan.
Akiko IshigamiDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan.
Mizuho NosakaDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan.
Akihiko KimuraDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan.
Hiroki YamamotoDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan.
Miyu OsakoDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan.
Reiko MatsukiDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan.
Toshikazu KondoDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan. kondot@wakayama-med.ac.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5059-8309

Funding

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science 23K09770Japan Society for the Promotion of Science 23K17445Japan Society for the Promotion of Science 23K24624Japan Society for the Promotion of Science 25K13659Japan Society for the Promotion of Science 25K21796Wakayama Medical University Wakayama Medical University
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Determining whether ligature marks represent antemortem or postmortem injuries is a critical issue in forensic practice because this distinction directly influences the reconstruction of perimortem events. Consequently, assessing the vital reaction of neck skin plays an essential role in evaluating the viability of compression-related injuries. Cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP), a multifunctional host-defense peptide involved in inflammation, immune cell recruitment, and wound repair, may serve as a reliable molecular marker for wound vitality. In this study, we examined CAMP expression in 40 ligature mark samples (32 samples of hanging and 8 samples of ligature/manual strangulation) obtained during forensic autopsies, along with matched intact skin controls, all with postmortem intervals of ≤ 3 days. Immunohistochemistry revealed strong CAMP expression in epidermal keratinocytes and moderate expression in dermal cells at compression sites, whereas control skin showed only faint or absent staining. Morphometric analysis demonstrated that the ratio of CAMP‑positive keratinocytes and the number of CAMP-positive dermal cells were significantly higher in compressed skin than in controls, independent of age, sex or postmortem interval. Moreover, neither ligature type nor mode of neck compression also had no influence on CAMP expression in the keratinocytes or dermal cells. These findings indicate that CAMP expression reflects a biological response to antemortem neck compression and may provide an objective molecular marker for assessing wound vitality in forensic pathology. Furthermore, combining CAMP with other established biomarkers may enhance diagnostic reliability when evaluating antemortem neck compression injuries.

Indexed as

Antimicrobial Cationic PeptidesAsphyxiaCathelicidinsNeck InjuriesSkinAdultAgedAged, 80 and overBiomarkersCase-Control StudiesFemaleForensic PathologyHumansImmunohistochemistryKeratinocytesMaleAntimicrobial Cationic PeptidesBiomarkersCathelicidinsCathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP)Forensic pathologyImmunohistochemistryNeck Compression

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.