Immunohistochemical localization of fibronectin as a tool for the age determination of human skin wounds

Abstract

Summary:We analyzed the distribution of fibronectin in routinely embedded tissue specimens from 53 skin wounds and 6 postmortem wounds. In postmortem wounds a faint but focal positive staining was exclusively found at the margin of the specimens which dit not extend into the adjacent stroma. Vital wounds were classified into 3 groups. The first comprising lesions with wound ages ranging from a few seconds to 30min, the second comprising those with wound ages upt to 3 weeks, and the third group with lesions more than 3 weeks old. Ten out of 17 lesions with a wound age up to 30 rain showed a clear positive reaction within the wound area. Three specimens in this group were completely negative, while in 4 additional cases the result was not significantly different from postmortem lesions. These 7 Cases were characterized by acute death with extremely short survival times (only seconds). In wounds up to 3 weeks old fibronectin formed a distinct network containing an increasing number of inflammatory cells corresponding to the wound age. In 2 cases with a survival time of 17 days and in all wounds older than 3 weeks fibronectin was restricted to the surface of fibroblasts and to parallel arranged fibers in the granulation tissue without any network structures. We present evidence that fibronectin is a useful marker for vital wounds with a survival time of more than a few minutes. Fibronectin appears before neutrophilic granulocytes migrate into the wound area. Since a faint positive fibronectin staining is seen in postmortem lesions and bleedings, we propose that only those wounds which show strong positive fibronectin staining also extending into the adjacent stroma should be regarded as vital.

The immunohistochemical localization of alpha1-antichymotrypsin and fibronectin and its meaning for the determination of the vitality of human skin wounds

“…1). However, in 6 of these cases, a distinct reaction for fibronectin in the form of strongly reacting strings with a beginning formation of network-like structures was demonstrable which indicates a vital reaction as previously described [3]. In some cases a band-shaped weak staining for fibronectin also occurred in marginal regions but this reaction was clearly distinguishable from vital fibronectin staining and only restricted to the outer areas of the margins.…”

“…Fechner et al [8] showed that the immunohistochemical localization of fibronectin was suitable for indicating vitality of skeletal muscle damage. The advantage of the detection of this glycoprotein as a vital sign in human skin wounds with a survival time of at least a few minutes was demonstrated by our own previous results [3].…”

“…The postmortem wounds (stab wounds on the thigh) were removed during autopsy 4 h after infliction. The specimens were prepared as previously described [3].…”

“…Dako, Hamburg, Germany) according to the ABC-method [10]. Fibronectin was localized in serial sections from 13 of the vital skin wounds and in all postmortem lesions as previously described [3].…”

The time-dependent rearrangement of the epithelial basement membrane in human skin wounds —immunohistochemical localization of Collagen IV and VII

“…Immunohistochemistry is not only useful for the detection of early changes during wound repair [3], but also provides significant information on the time-dependent appearance of various extracellular matrix components during the proliferative and reparative phases of wound healing.…”