Expression of adhesion molecules in skin wounds: diagnostic value in legalmedicine

The adhesion molecules identified in recent years can help improve the diag nosis of the wound age, especially of injuries with a short survival time, This is also indicative of the vitality of the wounds. The material investi gated in the study originated from 465 skin wounds. The samples were taken from human autopsy material, during the surgical treatment of wounds (excis ion) of patients and from experimental incised wounds of mice. To judge the age of skin wounds the endothelial adhesion molecules were detected in par affin sections after autoclaving and using the ABC technique. Human skin wo unds: strong positive staining was observed of ICAM-1 1.5 h at the earliest and 3.5 days at the latest, for the P-selectin 3 min at the earliest and 7 h at the latest, for the E-selectin 1 h at the earliest and 17 days at the latest and for VCAM-1 3 h at the earliest and 3.5 days at the latest after the time of injury. The L-selectin was expressed constitutively. Mice skin wounds: strong positive immunohistochemical reactions were found as a rule earlier than in human skin wounds. The detection of an increased expressio n of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and P- and E-selectins can improve the wound age assess ment in injuries with short survival times. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Irela nd Ltd. All rights reserved.