Abstract: Objective To investigate the expressions of TLR2 and TLR4 during skin wound healing and to explore their applicability in estimation of wound age. Methods The expressions of TLR2 and TLR4 were determined by immunohistochemistry performed on incised skin wound of 45 mice at different posttraumatic intervals and un-incised skin from 3 mice were used as control. Results The expressions of TLR2 and TLR4 of mononuclear phagocytes (MP) in incised skin correlated well with the posttraumatic intervals. The regression equations for TLR2 and TLR4 expressions were y=23.809 9+0.957 2x-0.007 7x2+1.5×10-5x3(R2=0.872) and y=25.225 6+0.789 3x-0.005 9x2+1.0×10-5x3(R2= 0.879), respectively. Conclusion The expressions of TLR2 and TLR4 in MP correlates well with the posttraumatic intervals during the healing process of incised mouse skin. The detection of TLR2 and TLR4 expressions in MP of the injured area may be a new and useful method for estimation of wound age.

Key words: forensic pathology, incised wound, estimation of wound age, TLR2, TLR4, mouse