Project description:Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a neurocristopathy characterized by absence of intramural ganglion cells along variable lengths of the gastrointestinal tract. The HSCR phenotype is highly variable with respect to gender, segment length of aganglionosis, familiality and the presence of additional anomalies. By molecular genetic analysis, a minimum of 11 neuro-developmental genes (RET, GDNF, NRTN, SOX10, EDNRB, EDN3, ECE1, ZFHX1B, PHOX2B, KIAA1279, TCF4) are known to harbor rare high-penetrance mutations that confer a large risk to the bearer. In addition, two other genes (RET, NRG1) harbor common low-penetrance polymorphisms that contribute only partially to risk and act as genetic modifiers. To broaden this search, we examined whether a set of 67 proven and candidate HSCR genes harbored additional modifier alleles. In this pilot study, we utilized a custom-designed array CGH with ~33,000 test probes at an average resolution of ~185bp to detect gene-sized or smaller copy number variants (CNVs) within these 67 genes in 18 heterogeneous HSCR patients. Using stringent criteria, we identified CNVs at three loci (MAPK10, ZFHX1B, SOX2) that are novel, involve regulatory and coding sequences of these neuro-developmental genes and show association with HSCR in combination with other congenital anomalies. Two-condition experiment: Patient vs. Control. Sex-matched controls. Technical replicates: 4 were examined twice and 3 were studied in triplicate. Technical replicates: 408.3.1, 408.3.2 Technical replicates: 300.3.1, 300.3.2 Technical replicates: 354.3.1, 354.3.2 Technical replicates: 355.3.1, 355.3.2 Technical replicates: 63.3.1, 63.3.2, 63.3.3 Technical replicates: 122.7.1, 122.7.2, 122.7.3 Technical replicates: 413.3.1, 413.3.2, 413.3.3
Project description:Objective Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a severe congenital disorder affecting 1:5000 live births. HSCR results from failure of enteric nervous system (ENS) progenitors to fully colonise the gastrointestinal tract during embryonic development. This leads to aganglionosis in the distal bowel, resulting in disrupted motor activity and impaired peristalsis. Currently, the only viable treatment option is surgical resection of the aganglionic bowel. However, patients frequently suffer debilitating, lifelong symptoms, with multiple surgical procedures often necessary. Hence, alternative treatment options are crucial. An attractive strategy involves the transplantation of ENS progenitors generated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Design ENS progenitors were generated from hPSCs using an accelerated protocol and characterised, in detail, through a combination of single cell RNA-sequencing, protein expression analysis and calcium imaging. We tested ENS progenitors’ capacity to integrate and restore functional responses in HSCR colon, after ex vivo transplantation to organotypically cultured patient-derived colonic tissue, using organ bath contractility. Results We found that our protocol consistently gives rise to high yields of cell populations exhibiting transcriptional and functional hallmarks of early ENS progenitors. Following transplantation, hPSC-derived ENS progenitors integrate, migrate and form neurons within explanted human HSCR colon samples. Importantly, the transplanted HSCR tissue displayed increased basal contractile activity and increased responses to electrical stimulation compared to control tissue. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate, for the first time, the potential of hPSC-derived ENS progenitors to repopulate and restore functional responses in human HSCR patient colonic tissue.
Project description:To study differential expression of genes in kids fed on doe's milk(Control) versus kids fed on replacer milk (Test) post PPR Vaccination
Project description:Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a neurocristopathy characterized by absence of intramural ganglion cells along variable lengths of the gastrointestinal tract. The HSCR phenotype is highly variable with respect to gender, segment length of aganglionosis, familiality and the presence of additional anomalies. By molecular genetic analysis, a minimum of 11 neuro-developmental genes (RET, GDNF, NRTN, SOX10, EDNRB, EDN3, ECE1, ZFHX1B, PHOX2B, KIAA1279, TCF4) are known to harbor rare high-penetrance mutations that confer a large risk to the bearer. In addition, two other genes (RET, NRG1) harbor common low-penetrance polymorphisms that contribute only partially to risk and act as genetic modifiers. To broaden this search, we examined whether a set of 67 proven and candidate HSCR genes harbored additional modifier alleles. In this pilot study, we utilized a custom-designed array CGH with ~33,000 test probes at an average resolution of ~185bp to detect gene-sized or smaller copy number variants (CNVs) within these 67 genes in 18 heterogeneous HSCR patients. Using stringent criteria, we identified CNVs at three loci (MAPK10, ZFHX1B, SOX2) that are novel, involve regulatory and coding sequences of these neuro-developmental genes and show association with HSCR in combination with other congenital anomalies.