OBJECTIVE: To prove the feasibility of detecting menstrual blood as well as its cellular localization with rabbit-anti-human matrix metalloproteinase-11 (MMP-11) polyclonal antibody. METHODS: MMP-11 in menstrual blood, peripheral blood, vaginal liquid, aged menstrual bloodstain, and endometrium sections were assayed with SAP immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: MMP-11 was found only in menstrual samples within stroma and epithelium cells. CONCLUSION MMP-11 polyclonal antibody may be applied in the distinction between menstrual blood and venous blood.
Adult ; Endometrium/pathology* ; Female ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 11/analysis* ; Menstrual Cycle/blood*

The identification of menstrual blood belongs to the forensic examination of bloodstains. The traditional methods for detecting menstrual blood were reviewed and their obstacles in forensic application were discussed. Matrix metalloproteinase-11 is a kind of protease which degrades the extracellular matrix. Some researches had indicated that matrix metalloproteinase-11 might be a new marker for specifically and sensitively detecting menstrual blood. The structure, function of matrix metalloproteinase-11 and its application in menstrual blood identification were reviewed.
Blood Stains ; Female ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 11/metabolism* ; Menstruation/blood* ; RNA, Messenger/blood* ; Retrospective Studies ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVE: To explore the forensic application value of detection of matrix metalloproteinase-11 (MMP-11) in menstrual blood by enhanced chemiluminescence method. METHODS: Menstrual blood, vaginal swab, peripheral blood, saliva stain, urine stain and semen stain were collected to detect whether or not there were MMP-11 using enhanced chemiluminescence method. The specificity and reliability of the MMP-11 assay along with its sensitivity were evaluated. RESULTS: The positive detection rate of MMP-11 in menstrual blood was 89.47%, whereas no MMP-11 was found in vaginal swab, peripheral blood, saliva stain, urine stain and semen stain. When 25 microL sample was added, the mass concentration of protein was 1.329 microg/microL, then MMP-11 could be detected. A positive detection rate of 89.58% was observed in MMP-11 positive menstrual blood samples after stored at 4 degrees C for 20 months. CONCLUSION Enhanced chemiluminescence method is sensitive and specific for detecting MMP-11, and can be applied to distinguish menstrual blood from common stain such as peripheral blood, vaginal fluid.
Biomarkers/blood* ; Blood Stains ; Blotting, Western ; Female ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Humans ; Luminescent Measurements/methods* ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 11/blood* ; Menstruation ; Reproducibility of Results ; Saliva/chemistry* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Urine/chemistry* ; Vagina/chemistry*