The Enteric Nervous System (ENS)

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is primarily in charge of controlling most of bowel and gut movements and is a relatively new concept. The ENS is made up of multiple ganglia that function organs including: the small and large intestines, stomach, liver, gallbladder, appendix, and pancreas. Hirschsprung’s disease can result from a mutation of the ENS. Hirschsprung’s disease is a condition where the colon partially forms due to the mutant genes that have preceded it during the development of the enteric nervous system. Hirschsprung’s disease can be caused by failure of the pathway from BMP, SOX10, RET receptor tyrosine kinase, endothelin-3 and EDNRB, CDX 1 and CDX 2, and FOXA1 and DUSP6.
ENTERIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
Overview
The enteric nervous …show more content…
FOXA1 was shown to regulate the RET receptor tyrosine kinase activity, and DUSP6 is a negative feedback controller.
(Luo et al., 2015) However, it is suggested that the FOXA1 and DUSP6 work together to form the ganglion generation. This is the first form of the enteric nervous system, leading the transcription and differentiation factor to initiate the formation. Likewise, if there are mutations in the FOXA1 or DUSP6 factors, then the ganglion will fail to develop properly, causing a lack of enteric nervous system cells and ultimately resulting in Hirschsprung’s disease. (Luo et al., 2015)
Conclusion
The Enteric nervous system is responsible for most of the functions of the gut. If there are mutations in the signaling pathway during the development of the gut, Hirschsprung’s disease can occur. The signaling molecules may have a mutation that can affect the development anywhere from migration to different degrees of differentiation. If BMP, SOX10, RET receptor tyrosine kinase, endothelin-3 and EDNRB, CDX 1 and CDX 2, or FOXA1 and DUSP6 contain mutations, the pathway will create migration and differentiation issues for the neural crest cells leading to Hirschsprung’s