Postmortem Gene Expression and the Thanatotranscriptome: Postmortem Interval Estimation, Forensic Applications, and Future Perspectives
- 1Eskişehir Branch Directorate, Council of Forensic Medicine, Eskişehir 26030, Türkiye
- 2Adana Group Directorate, Council of Forensic Medicine, Adana 01060, Türkiye
- 3Department of Forensic Medicine, Çukurova University, Adana 01330, Türkiye
Abstract
Postmortem molecular changes are more complex than a passive, uniform cessation of all cellular activity. Human and animal studies have demonstrated that certain RNA transcripts remain detectable for defined periods after death and that transcript levels exhibit tissue- and time-dependent changes. These postmortem RNA dynamics underpin the concept of the thanatotranscriptome and may provide molecular information relevant to postmortem interval (PMI) estimation. Postmortem changes have been reported in the abundance of transcripts associated with apoptosis, cellular stress, immune responses, and DNA damage response and repair pathways. However, observed transcript levels may reflect the combined effects of antemortem RNA stability, selective RNA degradation, and potentially residual transcriptional activity. A longitudinal study of human blood reported a root mean square error (RMSE) of 4.75 h for a PMI estimation model based on multiple transcripts, illustrating the quantitative potential of this approach. Nevertheless, RNA profiles may be influenced by tissue type, temperature, cause of death and agonal processes, interindividual biological variability, and sampling and storage conditions. Methodological heterogeneity and the lack of independent external validation further limit the translation of these approaches into routine forensic practice. This review critically evaluates the molecular basis of postmortem gene expression and RNA dynamics, messenger RNA (mRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers, transcriptome-based models for PMI estimation, and their potential forensic applications, with particular emphasis on the need for standardization, independent validation, and multi-biomarker approaches.
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BibTeX
@article{akpınar2026postmortem,
title = {{Postmortem Gene Expression and the Thanatotranscriptome: Postmortem Interval Estimation, Forensic Applications, and Future Perspectives}},
author = {Özlem Akpınar and Ziyaettin Erdem and Fettah Zeki Keskiner and Kenan Kaya},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27209036},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9036},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Postmortem Gene Expression and the Thanatotranscriptome: Postmortem Interval Estimation, Forensic Applications, and Future Perspectives
AU - Özlem Akpınar
AU - Ziyaettin Erdem
AU - Fettah Zeki Keskiner
AU - Kenan Kaya
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27209036
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9036
AB - Postmortem molecular changes are more complex than a passive, uniform cessation of all cellular activity. Human and animal studies have demonstrated that certain RNA transcripts remain detectable for defined periods after death and that transcript levels exhibit tissue- and time-dependent changes. These postmortem RNA dynamics underpin the concept of the thanatotranscriptome and may provide molecular information relevant to postmortem interval (PMI) estimation. Postmortem changes have been reported in the abundance of transcripts associated with apoptosis, cellular stress, immune responses, and DNA damage response and repair pathways. However, observed transcript levels may reflect the combined effects of antemortem RNA stability, selective RNA degradation, and potentially residual transcriptional activity. A longitudinal study of human blood reported a root mean square error (RMSE) of 4.75 h for a PMI estimation model based on multiple transcripts, illustrating the quantitative potential of this approach. Nevertheless, RNA profiles may be influenced by tissue type, temperature, cause of death and agonal processes, interindividual biological variability, and sampling and storage conditions. Methodological heterogeneity and the lack of independent external validation further limit the translation of these approaches into routine forensic practice. This review critically evaluates the molecular basis of postmortem gene expression and RNA dynamics, messenger RNA (mRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers, transcriptome-based models for PMI estimation, and their potential forensic applications, with particular emphasis on the need for standardization, independent validation, and multi-biomarker approaches.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -