Lack of Mucosal Cholinergic Innervation Is Associated With Increased Risk of Enterocolitis in Hirschsprung's Disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) is a congenital intestinal motility disorder defined by the absence of enteric neuronal cells (ganglia) in the distal gut. The development of HSCR-associated enterocolitis remains a life-threatening complication. Absence of enteric ganglia implicates innervation of acetylcholine-secreting (cholinergic) nerve fibers. Cholinergic signals have been reported to control excessive inflammation, but the impact on HSCR-associated enterocolitis is unknown.

Methods

We enrolled 44 HSCR patients in a prospective multicenter study and grouped them according to their degree of colonic mucosal acetylcholinesterase-positive innervation into low-fiber and high-fiber patient groups. The fiber phenotype was correlated with the tissue cytokine pro

SUBMITTER: Keck S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8258990 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature