Contributions of PHOX2B in the pathogenesis of Hirschsprung disease

PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e54043. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054043. Epub 2013 Jan 14.

Abstract

Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a congenital malformation of the hindgut resulting from a disruption of neural crest cell migration during embryonic development. It has a complex genetic aetiology with several genes involved in its pathogenesis. PHOX2B plays a key function in the development of neural crest derivatives, and heterozygous mutations cause a complex dysautonomia associating HSCR, Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome (CCHS) and neuroblastoma (NB) in various combinations. In order to determine the role of PHOX2B in isolated HSCR, we performed a mutational screening in a cohort of 207 Spanish HSCR patients. Our most relevant finding has been the identification of a de novo and novel deletion (c.393_410del18) in a patient with HSCR. Results of in silico and functional assays support its pathogenic effect related to HSCR. Therefore our results support that PHOX2B loss-of-function is a rare cause of HSCR phenotype.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Case-Control Studies
  • Computational Biology
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Female
  • Hirschsprung Disease / genetics*
  • Hirschsprung Disease / pathology*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*

Substances

  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • NBPhox protein
  • Transcription Factors

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Spain (PI1001290) and Regional Ministry of Innovation, Science and Enterprise of the Autonomous Government of Andalucia (CTS-7447), the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale and the Agence Nationale de la Recherche. The CIBERER is an initiative of the ISCIII, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.