[Study of polymorphisms associated to Hirschsprung's disease]

Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) is a developmental disorder characterised by the absence of the enteric ganglia along the intestine. Is regarded as the consequence of the premature arrest of the migration of neural crest cells in the hindgut during the embryonic development to form the enteric nervous system (ENS). Is considered, therefore, a neurocristopathy. The development of surgical approaches has importantly decreased mortality and morbility of Hirschsprung's patients, which has allowed the emergence of genetic studies of patients and their families. Although the genetic cause of the disease is still unknown, the RET oncogene is the main involved. Alterations in this gene have been found in HSCR patients, so many authors suggest that certain polymorphisms (SNPs) in this gene could be responsible of genetic predisposition to have the disease. Our work has consisted in the genetic analysis of the RET gene in HSCR patients using direct sequencing and genotyping with TaqMan probes. Our results show that some alleles of the polymorphisms p.Leu769Leu (c.2307T>G, Exon 13) p.Gly691Ser (c.2071G>A, Exon 11) and p.Ser904Ser (c.2712C>G, Exon 15) are associated to the disease since there are significant differences from the healthy population.