The effect of elapsed time on cardiac troponin-T (cTnT) degradation and its dependency on the cause of death

• To evaluate the effect of elapsed time and cause of death on Cardiac Troponin-T.
• The cases included were divided into six groups depending upon the cause of death.
• In case of death due to MI, the intact cTnI fragmented at a much faster rate.
• The cTnT fragmentation in various causes of death reveals time-dependent process.
• Potential to be applied in future as a better method of evaluating cause of death.

PurposeThe aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of elapsed time on cardiac troponin-T degradation and its dependency on the cause of death.MethodsThe cases included in this study were divided into six groups depending upon the cause of death without any prior history of disease that died in the hospital and their exact time of death was known. The analysis involves extraction of the protein, separation by denaturing gel electrophoresis and visualization by Western blot.ResultsWestern blot data shows the rate of degradation of cTnT into lower molecular weight fragments with respect to time. In cases of control group the greatest amount of protein breakdown was observed within the first 64 h while in MI cases within first 6 h, the original band of cTnT (42 kDa) decreased markedly into seven major fragments, with 25 kDa & 20 kDa fragments being the most prominent. In burn group, at 41.40 h blot shows maximum fragmentation. In electrocution group the greatest amount of protein breakdown was observed within the first 50 Hrs. Within asphyxia cases, the original band of cTnT (42 kDa) decreased markedly into many major and minor fragments which continues up to 210 Hrs while the original band of cTnT (42 kDa) in poisoning cases decreased markedly into many major & minor fragments up to 140 h but after it blot shows only intact protein of very less intensity with few minor fragments.ConclusionIt can be observed that in case of death due to MI, the intact cTnI fragmented at a much faster rate than in burn, electrocution, control, poisoning and asphyxia group. Thus, the rate of fragmentation of intact cTnT into lower molecular weight fragments depends upon the cause of death.