Association analysis of the PHOX2B gene with Hirschsprung disease in the Han Chinese population of Southeastern China.
BACKGROUND
Hirschsprung disease (HSCR, OMIM 142623) is a complex congenital disorder characterized by intestinal obstructions caused by the absence of the intestinal ganglion cells of the nerve plexuses in variable lengths of the digestive tract. The PHOX2B gene is involved in neurogenesis and disruption of Phox2b in mice results in a HSCR-like phenotype. The first association study of the PHOX2B gene with HSCR derived from Chinese population in Hong Kong; here, we address the question of whether PHOX2B acts as a predisposing factor in HSCR pathogenesis in Chinese population in mainland.


METHODS
To investigate the contribution of PHOX2B to the HSCR phenotype, polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct sequencing were used to screen PHOX2B coding regions and intron/exon boundaries for mutations and polymorphisms in 102 patients with HSCR and 96 ethnically matched controls, in Han Chinese populations of Southeastern China.


RESULTS
In this study, we genotyped 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (including 1 novel SNP) located within the PHOX2B gene. Statistically significant differences were found for c.701 A > G and IVS2 + 100 A > G, and the log-additive model was accepted as the best inheritance model (odds ratio [OR], 1.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-2.87) for IVS2 + 100 A > G. We also showed that the haplotype-A G A N composed of 4 SNPs exhibited significant association with the disease (P = .03); this haplotype was more frequently observed in cases than in controls (OR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.11-4.82).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study provided further evidence that the PHOX2B gene is involved in the susceptibility to HSCR in the Han Chinese population. Our findings are in accordance with the involvement of PHOX2B in the signaling pathways governing the development of enteric neurons.
Liu
Cui-Ping
CP
Institute of Cell Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China.
Li
Xin-Gang
XG
Lou
Jin-Tu
JT
Xue
Yun
Y
Luo
Chun-Fen
CF
Zhou
Xue-Wu
XW
Chen
Fei
F
Li
Xiang
X
Li
Meng
M
Li
Ji-Cheng
JC
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006239:Haplotypes; D006627:Hirschsprung Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C109220:NBPhox protein; D014157:Transcription Factors