Beyond Histology: Genetic and Transcriptomic Insights into the Postmortem Diagnosis of Mechanical Asphyxia

Abstract

Background: Mechanical asphyxia is a cause of death characterized by external interference with breathing or circulation,leading to critical hypoxia and often rapid demise. Its forensic diagnosis remains one of the most challenging tasks in postmortem practice due to the frequently nonspecific and overlapping nature of external and internal findings. In recent years, advancements in molecular biology have opened new avenues for the objective identification of antemortem hypoxic stress. Gene expression analysis, microRNA profiling, and proteomic approaches now offer promising supplementary tools for detecting the physiological responses associated with mechanical asphyxia at the cellular and subcellular levels.