Volume 55, Issue 2 pp. 492-498

A New Approach to the Investigation of Sexual Offenses—Cytoskeleton Analysis Reveals the Origin of Cells Found on Forensic Swabs*

Martin M. Schulz Ph.D.,

Martin M. Schulz Ph.D.

Institute of Legal Medicine, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, Naegelestrasse 5, D-72074 Tuebingen, Germany.

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Maximilian G.D. Buschner,

Maximilian G.D. Buschner

Institute of Legal Medicine, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, Naegelestrasse 5, D-72074 Tuebingen, Germany.

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Richard Leidig,

Richard Leidig

Institute of Legal Medicine, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, Naegelestrasse 5, D-72074 Tuebingen, Germany.

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Heinz-D. Wehner M.D.,

Heinz-D. Wehner M.D.

Institute of Legal Medicine, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, Naegelestrasse 5, D-72074 Tuebingen, Germany.

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Peter Fritz M.D.,

Peter Fritz M.D.

Institute of Pathology, Robert Bosch Medical Center, Auerbachstrasse 110, D-70376 Stuttgart, Germany.

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Karina Häbig,

Karina Häbig

Institute of Human Genetics, Department of Medical Genetics, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, Calwerstrasse 7, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.

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Michael Bonin Ph.D.,

Michael Bonin Ph.D.

Institute of Human Genetics, Department of Medical Genetics, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, Calwerstrasse 7, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.

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Monika Schütz Ph.D.,

Monika Schütz Ph.D.

Institute of Microbiology, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Strasse 6, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.

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Thomas Shiozawa M.D.,

Thomas Shiozawa M.D.

Institute of Anatomy, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Strasse 8, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.

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Frank Wehner M.D.,

Frank Wehner M.D.

Institute of Legal Medicine, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, Naegelestrasse 5, D-72074 Tuebingen, Germany.

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Martin M. Schulz Ph.D.,

Martin M. Schulz Ph.D.

Institute of Legal Medicine, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, Naegelestrasse 5, D-72074 Tuebingen, Germany.

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Maximilian G.D. Buschner,

Maximilian G.D. Buschner

Institute of Legal Medicine, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, Naegelestrasse 5, D-72074 Tuebingen, Germany.

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Richard Leidig,

Richard Leidig

Institute of Legal Medicine, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, Naegelestrasse 5, D-72074 Tuebingen, Germany.

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Heinz-D. Wehner M.D.,

Heinz-D. Wehner M.D.

Institute of Legal Medicine, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, Naegelestrasse 5, D-72074 Tuebingen, Germany.

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Peter Fritz M.D.,

Peter Fritz M.D.

Institute of Pathology, Robert Bosch Medical Center, Auerbachstrasse 110, D-70376 Stuttgart, Germany.

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Karina Häbig,

Karina Häbig

Institute of Human Genetics, Department of Medical Genetics, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, Calwerstrasse 7, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.

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Michael Bonin Ph.D.,

Michael Bonin Ph.D.

Institute of Human Genetics, Department of Medical Genetics, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, Calwerstrasse 7, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.

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Monika Schütz Ph.D.,

Monika Schütz Ph.D.

Institute of Microbiology, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Strasse 6, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.

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Thomas Shiozawa M.D.,

Thomas Shiozawa M.D.

Institute of Anatomy, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Strasse 8, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany.

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Frank Wehner M.D.,

Frank Wehner M.D.

Institute of Legal Medicine, Eberhard-Karls-University of Tuebingen, Naegelestrasse 5, D-72074 Tuebingen, Germany.

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First published: 01 March 2010

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2009.01071.x

Citations: 18

Additional information and reprint requests:
Martin M. Schulz, Ph.D.
Institute of Legal Medicine
Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich
Nussbaumstrasse 26
D-80336 Munich
Germany
E-mail: [email protected]

This study was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation).

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Abstract

Abstract: There are forensic inquiries in which an identification of epithelial cell types would provide important probative evidence. In cancer diagnosis, this information is yielded by histological examination of cytokeratin (Ck). Therefore, we tested 19 antibodies against different Cks (Ck1, Ck2e, Ck4, Ck5-6, Ck7, Ck8, Ck9, CK10, Ck13, Ck14, Ck15, Ck16, Ck17, Ck18, Ck19, Ck20, Ck903, PanCkAE1_3, and CAM5-2) on histological sections of epidermis, buccal mucosa, vaginal mucosa, penis, urogenital tract, and rectum and could identify two antigens unique to buccal-cell and vaginal-cell (Ck4) and skin epithelial-cell (Ck10) cytokeratin. Subsequently, we developed an immunocytological technique for distinguishing swabbed skin and mucosal cells up to at least 1 year after sampling. By the detection of the Ck4 and Ck10 mRNAs in biopsy and laser capture microdissection collected samples via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, we were able to confirm our immunological findings. Hence, this study offers techniques to discriminate between skin and mucosal cells (buccal and vaginal) in forensic casework.

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Volume55, Issue2

March 2010

Pages 492-498

A New Approach to the Investigation of Sexual Offenses—Cytoskeleton Analysis Reveals the Origin of Cells Found on Forensic Swabs*

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A New Approach to the Investigation of Sexual Offenses—Cytoskeleton Analysis Reveals the Origin of Cells Found on Forensic Swabs*

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