| Category |
Medicine, Research & Experimental |
| Manuscript Type |
Basic Study |
| Article Title |
Proenkephalin modulates apoptosis and neuronal differentiation in enteric neural crest cells with implications for the TLR4 signaling pathway
|
| Manuscript Source |
Unsolicited Manuscript |
| All Author List |
Chun-Can Ma, Qiong-Qian Xu, Ya-Lan Xia, Yong Li, Xi-Xi He, Dong Sun, Ji-Chang Han, Xue Ren, Zhao Tian, Kai Qiu, Xiao-Yang Liu, Zhi-Hang Zhou, Lin Zhu, Tian-Ran Cheng, Fang-Ru Zong, Dong-Ming Wang, Jian Wang and Ai-Wu Li |
| Funding Agency and Grant Number |
| Funding Agency |
Grant Number |
| National Natural Science Foundation of China |
No. 82271743 and No. 82071682 |
| The Hunan Natural Science Foundation Regional Joint Fund Project |
No. 2024JJ7555 |
| The Scientific Research Foundation of Jishou University |
No. Jdzd24047 |
|
| Corresponding Author |
Ai-Wu Li, Chief Physician, PhD, Professor, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, No. 107 Wenhuaxilu Road, Jinan 250012, Shandong Province, China. liaiwu@qiluhospital.com |
| Key Words |
Proenkephalin; Toll-like receptor 4; Enteric neural crest cells; Hirschsprung’s disease; Apoptosis; Differentiation |
| Core Tip |
This study identifies proenkephalin (PENK) as a significantly downregulated factor in aganglionic bowel segments of Hirschsprung’s disease patients, predominantly enriched in enteric neuronal populations. Functional experiments in primary enteric neural crest cells demonstrate that PENK modulates apoptosis and neuronal differentiation, with the toll-like receptor 4 signaling pathway implicated as a downstream mediator. These findings identify the PENK-toll-like receptor 4 axis as a previously unrecognized regulator of enteric nervous system development and a candidate for future investigation in Hirschsprung’s disease. |
| Citation |
Ma CC, Xu QQ, Xia YL, Li Y, He XX, Sun D, Han JC, Ren X, Tian Z, Qiu K, Liu XY, Zhou ZH, Zhu L, Cheng TR, Zong FR, Wang DM, Wang J, Li AW. Proenkephalin modulates apoptosis and neuronal differentiation in enteric neural crest cells with implications for the TLR4 signaling pathway. World J Gastroenterol 2026; In press
|
| PDF |
125036-in-press.pdf
|
