Abstract: Objective To investigate the expressions and time-dependent changes of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase （PI3K）, phospho-P13K （p-PI3K）, protein kinase B （PKB/Akt） and phospho-Akt （p-Akt） during wound healing process of mice skin. Methods The changes of PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt and p-Akt expression in skin wound were detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and real-time PCR. Results Immunohistochemistry showed the expression of PI3K and p-Akt were observed in mononuclear and fibroblast after skin wound, and reached peak in reconstruction. The positive bands of PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt and p-Akt were observed in all time points of the wound healing process by Western blotting. The expression peak of p-PI3K and p-Akt showed in inflammation and proliferation; the expression peak of PI3K and Akt in reconstruction. Real-time PCR showed the expression peak of PI3K mRNA in inflammation and reconstruction and the peak of Akt mRNA in reconstruction. Conclusion During the wound healing process, the expressions of PI3K, Akt, p-PI3K and p-Akt show different changes with significant correlation to wound time. The expression of PI3K/Akt may be a valuable marker for wound time estimation.

Key words: forensic pathology, wounds and injuries, skin, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, phospho-PI3K, protein kinase B, phospho-Akt, mice