CURRENT APPLICATIONS OF PROTEOMICS IN FORENSIC MEDICINE AND PATHOLOGICAL ANATOMY

Authors:

Abstract:

The purpose of the study was to analyse current scientific data on the potential applications of proteomic technologies in forensic medicine and pathological anatomy, and to determine their diagnostic potential, key advantages, limitations and prospects for integration into practical approaches to the analysis of biological material. A narrative review of scientific publications was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases devoted to the use of proteomic methods, in particular mass spectrometric proteomics, LC-MS/MS, MALDI imaging mass spectrometry and spatial proteomics. The potential applications of proteomic analysis in forensic medicine for the identification of biological fluids, the examination of degraded biological materials, the characterisation of human remains and the assessment of post-mortem changes have been analysed. In pathological anatomy, proteomics is regarded as a complementary tool to traditional morphological and immunohistochemical methods, enabling the identification of specific protein profiles, potential biomarkers and molecular features of pathological processes. Spatial proteomic technologies, which combine molecular information with the morphological structure of tissues, as well as the analysis of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens, offer particular promise. It has been established that proteomics has significant potential for the development of comprehensive molecular research in forensic medicine and pathological anatomy; however, its widespread implementation requires the standardisation of methodologies, the refinement of bioinformatic analysis, the accumulation of an evidence base and improved access to technologies. The integration of proteomic approaches with genomic, transcriptomic and information-analytical platforms could form the basis for a new paradigm in the study of biological systems and pathological processes.

Keywords:

proteomics forensic medicine pathological anatomy mass spectrometry biomarkers molecular diagnostics

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Publication:

«World of Medicine and Biology» Vol. 22 No. 97 (2026), pp. 251-257
UDC 61:340.6:616-091:577.11

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26724/2079-8334-2026-3-97-251-257