{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,9]],"date-time":"2026-10-09T04:49:55Z","timestamp":1791521395479,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":15,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"19","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]],"date-time":"2026-10-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791158400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Int. J. Mol. Sci.","IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Cutaneous electrical marks may provide the principal localized morphological evidence of contact with an electrical conductor, but their histopathological interpretation remains challenging. We investigated the topographical relationship between dermo-epidermal detachment and junction-associated Laminin-Receptor\/Ribosomal Protein SA (Laminin-R\/RPSA) immunoreactivity in 25 full-thickness skin specimens from documented fatal electrocution cases. Detachment on hematoxylin and eosin (H&amp;E) staining was initially classified as present, absent, or equivocal, with discordant or equivocal assessments subsequently adjudicated by a supervising observer. After adjudication, detachment was present in 22 specimens (88%) and absent in three (12%). All 22 specimens with detachment lacked detectable junction-associated Laminin-R\/RPSA immunoreactivity at the corresponding interface, whereas all three specimens without detachment retained the signal. All 25 preserved perilesional regions showed retained immunoreactivity. The paired absolute difference in the proportion showing loss of immunoreactivity between lesion and perilesional sites was 88.0 percentage points (95% CI, 55.5\u201397.5; exact McNemar p &lt; 0.0001). These findings demonstrate a consistent spatial correspondence between dermo-epidermal separation and localized loss of detectable Laminin-R\/RPSA immunoreactivity. Because the antibody targets RPSA rather than laminin-332, the results do not directly establish laminin-332 damage. Laminin-R\/RPSA immunohistochemistry may complement conventional H&amp;E examination, but controlled comparative studies are required to determine specificity and reproducibility.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms27198872","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]],"date-time":"2026-10-05T14:43:18Z","timestamp":1791211398000},"page":"8872","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Junction-Associated Laminin-R\/RPSA Immunoreactivity in Electrical Marks: A Morphological and Immunohistochemical Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"27","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-3036-4014","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anna Claudia","family":"Caruso","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-2274-9264","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Damiano","family":"Marchesini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anna Maria","family":"Manta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6473-7632","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Donato","family":"Morena","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7259-3090","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Matteo","family":"Scopetti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00189 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2452-7926","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Martina","family":"Padovano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Public Security, Directorate for the Forensic Science Police and the Cyber Security, Forensic Science Police Service, 00173 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Roberta","family":"Bibb\u00f2","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Forensic Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6464-3249","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Luigi","family":"Cipolloni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Forensic Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1686-3236","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vittorio","family":"Fineschi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2469","DOI":"10.1007\/s00414-021-02658-0","article-title":"Advances in forensic diagnosis of electric shock death in the absence of typical electrical marks","volume":"135","author":"Jin","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Leg. Med."},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"255","article-title":"Histopathological examination of skin in electrocution deaths: One year autopsy study","volume":"4","author":"Patil","year":"2017","journal-title":"Indian J. Forensic Community Med."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"91","DOI":"10.1007\/s12024-022-00544-8","article-title":"Electrocution-post-mortem presentations, problems and pitfalls","volume":"19","author":"Byard","year":"2023","journal-title":"Forensic Sci. Med. Pathol."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mansueto, G., Di Napoli, M., Mascolo, P., Carfora, A., Zangani, P., Della Pietra, B., and Campobasso, C.P. (2021). Electrocution stigmas in organ damage: The pathological marks. Diagnostics, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics11040682"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijcard.2005.07.060","article-title":"Electric shock: Cardiac effects relative to non-fatal injuries and post-mortem findings in fatal cases","volume":"111","author":"Fineschi","year":"2006","journal-title":"Int. J. Cardiol."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1016\/j.legalmed.2003.08.006","article-title":"The application of a variable-pressure scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray microanalyser to the diagnosis of electrocution: A case report","volume":"6","author":"Kinoshita","year":"2004","journal-title":"Leg. Med."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107","DOI":"10.1016\/j.forsciint.2018.01.001","article-title":"Diagnosis of electrocution: The application of scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy in five cases","volume":"284","author":"Chen","year":"2018","journal-title":"Forensic Sci. Int."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"190","DOI":"10.1097\/PAF.0000000000000238","article-title":"Application of microbeam X-ray fluorescence spectrometry in the diagnosis of suspected electrocution by high-voltage direct current: A case report","volume":"37","author":"Wang","year":"2016","journal-title":"Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lindford, A., Juteau, S., Jaks, V., Klaas, M., Lagus, H., Vuola, J., and Kankuri, E. (2021). Case report: Unravelling the mysterious Lichtenberg figure skin response in a patient with a high-voltage electrical injury. Front. Med., 8.","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2021.663807"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"169","DOI":"10.1016\/S0923-1811(03)00045-8","article-title":"Epidermal basement membrane zone components: Ultrastructural distribution and molecular interactions","volume":"31","author":"McMillan","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Dermatol. Sci."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"326","DOI":"10.1016\/j.matbio.2005.05.006","article-title":"A simplified laminin nomenclature","volume":"24","author":"Aumailley","year":"2005","journal-title":"Matrix Biol."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Parzymies, P. (2026). So much more than just structural support: Laminin-332 and its multifaceted functions in skin homeostasis and disease. Exp. Dermatol., 35.","DOI":"10.1111\/exd.70293"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2118","DOI":"10.1093\/ced\/llaf308","article-title":"Extracellular matrix alterations in inflammatory skin diseases: Emerging biomarkers and clinical implications","volume":"50","author":"Port","year":"2025","journal-title":"Clin. Exp. Dermatol."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"288","DOI":"10.1111\/brv.12170","article-title":"Looking into laminin receptor: Critical discussion regarding the non-integrin 37\/67-kDa laminin receptor\/RPSA protein","volume":"91","author":"DiGiacomo","year":"2016","journal-title":"Biol. Rev."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fineschi, V., and Morena, D. (2026). Forensic histopathology as an autonomous discipline of method and scientific advancement. Forensic Sci. Res., 11.","DOI":"10.3788\/tfsr20260028"}],"container-title":["International Journal of Molecular Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1422-0067\/27\/19\/8872\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,9]],"date-time":"2026-10-09T04:14:45Z","timestamp":1791519285000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1422-0067\/27\/19\/8872"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]]},"references-count":15,"journal-issue":{"issue":"19","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]}},"alternative-id":["ijms27198872"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijms27198872","relation":{},"ISSN":["1422-0067"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1422-0067","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]]}}}