Pathogenesis of Hirschsprung’s disease and its variants: recent progress

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a complex network of interconnected neurons within the wall of the intestine that controls intestinal motility, regulates mucosal secretion and blood flow, and also modulates sensation from the gut. The cells that form the ENS in mammals are derived primarily from vagal neural crest cells. During the past decade there has been an explosion of information about genes that control the development of neural crest. Molecular-genetic analysis has identified several genes that have a role in the development of Hirschsprung’s disease. The major susceptibility gene is RET, which is also involved in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2. Recently, genetic studies have provided strong evidence in animal models that intestinal neuronal dysplasia (IND) is a real entity. HOX11L1 knockout mice and endothelin B receptor-deficient rats demonstrated abnormalities of the ENS resembling IND type B in humans. These findings support the concept that IND may be linked to a genetic defect.