CATHEPSIN-D AS A VITALITY MARKER IN HUMAN SKIN WOUNDS

This paper shows the results obtained by studying the lysosomal enzyme Cathepsin D as a potential marker for the vitality of wounds in human specimens. We have analyzed 53 samples using enzymological and histol ogical techniques. Our results show the ability of Cathepsin D to esta blish the vital origin of wounds inflicted 5 minutes or less before de ath, where the specific activity of cathepsin D reached 0.055 units at the wound edge and 0.01 units in their respective controls (P < 0.001 ). As previously demonstrated in an experimental series, Cathepsin D s eems to be a very useful marker of high forensic interest in especiall y difficult cases. Further studies are in progress to check the influe nce of different factors such as drugs intake and clinical conditions on Cathepsin D activity.