Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Sexual Transmission of American Trypanosomes from Males and Females to Naive Mates
Published on: January 27, 2019
Gene mutations in esophageal mucosa of chagas disease patients
Fernanda DA Silva Manoel-Caetano1, Aparecida F P Silveira, Ana Elizabete Silva
1Universidade Estadual Paulista, Departamento de Biologia, Rua Cristóvão Colombo, 2265, SP, Brazil.
Background:
Chagas disease patients with longstanding megaesophagus have a significantly increased risk for esophageal carcinoma.
Materials And Methods:
PCR-SSCP analysis and DNA sequencing of esophageal mucosa from Chagas disease patients (with or without megaesophagus) in the exons of the TP53, CDKN2A and FHIT genes were performed.
Results:
SSCP analysis showed a mobility shift in 2/20 patients with grade IV megaesophagus (CDKN2A exon 1 and FHIT exon 7) and in 1/10 patients without megaesophagus (TP53 exons 5 and 8). However, DNA sequencing indicated a silent mutation in exon 7 of the FHIT gene (GCT --> GCC) in codon 88 in only one case of megaesophagus.
Conclusion:
Gene mutations are rare events in the exons investigated in esophageal mucosa of Chagas disease patients and further investigations are important to clarify the possible involvement of this silent mutation in exon 7 (FHIT gene) in the advanced grades of megaesophagus and esophageal carcinogenesis.
Related Concept Videos
Esophageal Achalasia
American Trypanosomiasis
Barrett Esophagus-I: Introduction
This constant acid exposure transforms the esophagus's pink mucosal lining (stratified squamous epithelium) into a type of lining more similar...
Esophageal Strictures-I: Introduction
Etiology
The primary cause of esophageal strictures is long-standing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), accounting for about 70 to 80% of adult cases. Chronic acid reflux can lead to injury and scarring of the esophageal lining, culminating in...
Mutations
Mutations
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...

