Expression and significance of SOX2 and SOX11 in colons of Hirschsprung’s disease

Abstract

Objective To explore the expressions of SOX2 and SOX11 in enteric plexus of Hirschsprung’s disease (HSCR) and examine their relationship with the development of enteric plexus and ganglion cells. Methods SP immunohistochemistry was utilized for detecting the protein expressions of SOX2 and SOX11 in myenteric plexus of proximal margin, transitional segment and narrow segment in 50 HSCR children; Microscopic measurement equipment was applied for gauging the diameter of myenteric plexus and ganglion cells and observing the development of ganglion cells. And reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used for detecting the expressions of SOX2 and SOX11 mRNA in proximal margin and narrow segment of 20 HSCR cases. Results In proximal margin, transitional segment and narrow segment, the average optical density of SOX2 protein in myenteric plexus were 0.132 5±0.046 9, 0.053 8±0.014 3 and 0.024 4±0.012 2 respectively (P<0.05); The average optical density of SOX11 protein in myenteric plexus were 0.069 6±0.018 7, 0.030 4±0.010 6 and 0.005 4±0.004 4 respectively. And there were statistically significant differences between different sites (P<0.05). Microscopic measurements showed that the myenteric plexus diameters of proximal margin, transitional segment and narrow segment were (57.42±11.42), (33.16±4.76) and (30.53±6.50) μm respectively. And the differences of each group were statistically significant (P<0.05); The number of ganglion cells in single microscope field (×400) of myenteric plexus of proximal margin and transitional segment were 5.53±1.45 and 1.97±0.80 respectively (P<0.05); The ratios of cytoplasm to nucleus of ganglion cells in myenteric plexus of proximal margin and transitional segment were 2.18±0.20 and 1.63±0.14 and the average diameters of ganglion cells in myenteric plexus (16.09±1.75) and (11.91±1.30) μm respectively. And the differences between the above indicators were statistically significant (P<0.05). RT-qPCR showed that the expression of SOX2 mRNA in proximal margin was 3.05 folds of that in narrow segment. And the expression of SOX11 mRNA in proximal margin was 2.79 folds of that in narrow segment and there were statistically significant differences between different sites (P<0.05). Conclusions The expression levels of SOX2 and SOX11 in glial cells or ganglion cells of enteric plexus may affect the development of enteric plexus and ganglion cells and thus participate in the pathogenesis of HSCR. Key words: Hirschsprung’s disease; Enteric nervous system; Ganglion cells