Journal of Forensic Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (3): 201-207.DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2024.441004

• Original Articles •     Next Articles

Temporal Expression of NETosis Marker CitH3 in Deep Vein Thrombosis in Mice

Qian WANG1,2(), Song-min YANG3, Juan-juan WU1,2, Yu ZHANG1,2, Xiang-meng WANG1,2, Gang CHEN1,2, Peng-fei JIANG1()   

  1. 1.School of Basic Medical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang Province, China
    2.Forensic Center, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang Province, China
    3.Criminal Investigation Detachment of Dengfeng Public Security Bureau, Dengfeng 452470, Henan Province, China
  • Received:2024-10-09 Online:2025-09-15 Published:2025-06-25
  • Contact: Peng-fei JIANG

Abstract:

Objective To detect the expression changes of citrullinated histone H3 (CitH3) during the development of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in mice, and to explore its value in estimating the time to thrombosis. Methods The inferior vena cava (IVC) of mice was ligated to establish a thrombosis model induced by congestion. Mice were sacrificed under excessive anesthesia at 0 h, 1 d, 3 d, 5 d, 7 d, 10 d, 14 d and 21 d after the modeling, respectively. The congested IVC segments (0 h after modeling) and the thrombosed IVC segments (1-21 days after modeling) were extracted. Immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescence staining were used to observe the number of neutrophils and the expression of CitH3 during thrombosis. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression level of CitH3. Results During thrombosis, CitH3 was mainly expressed in neutrophils within the thrombus. A small number of neutrophils and a few CitH3-positive cells were observed at 0 h after modeling in the congested IVC. Between 1 d and 21 d after modeling, the number of neutrophils reached a peak at 1 d and gradually decreased. The number of CitH3-positive cells and their ratio to neutrophils began to increase at 1 d, reached a peak at 5 d after modeling, and then decreased. The expression level of CitH3 protein began to increase at 1 d and reached a peak at 5 d after modeling. Conclusion The expression of CitH3 during DVI shows temporal changes, and is expected to become a biological marker for estimating the formation time of thrombosis.

Key words: forensic pathology, deep vein thrombosis, citrullinated histone H3 (CitH3), temporal expression, mice

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