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Are mast cells implicated in asphyxia?

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Abstract

In a previous immunohistochemical (IHC) study, we documented the reaction of lung tissue vessels to hypoxia through the immunodetection of HIF1-α protein, a key regulator of cellular response to hypoxic conditions. Findings showing that asphyxia deaths are associated with an increase in the number of mast cell (MC)-derived tryptase enzymes in the blood suggests that HIF1-α production may be correlated with MC activation in hypoxic conditions. This hypothesis prompted us to investigate the possible role of pulmonary MC in acute asphyxia deaths. Lung of 47 medico-legal autopsy cases (35 asphyxia/hypoxia deaths, 11 controls, and 1 anaphylactic death) were processed by IHC analysis using anti-CD117 (c-Kit) antibody to investigate peri-airway and peri-vascular MC together with their counts and features. Results showed a significant increase in peri-vascular c-kit+ MC in some asphyxia deaths, such as hanging, strangulation, and aspiration deaths. A strong activation of MC in peri-airway and peri-vascular areas was also observed in lung samples from the anaphylaxis case, which was used as a positive control. Our study points to the potential role of MC in hypoxia and suggests that an evaluation of MC in the lungs may be a useful parameter when forensic pathologists are required to make a differential diagnosis between acute asphyxia deaths and other kinds of death.

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Authors followed accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct. No sources of funding were given for the study, and no informed consent has to be given.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

    Barbara Muciaccia, Cristina Sestili, Stefania De Grossi, Annarita Vestri, Luigi Cipolloni & Rossana Cecchi

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  1. Barbara Muciaccia
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  2. Cristina Sestili
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  3. Stefania De Grossi
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Correspondence to Rossana Cecchi.

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Muciaccia, B., Sestili, C., De Grossi, S. et al. Are mast cells implicated in asphyxia?. Int J Legal Med 130, 153–161 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-015-1211-5

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