Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40999499›Full record

ArticleGenome medicine2025

EMB is essential for enteric nervous system development mediated by PI3K signaling.

Zhi Li, Didi Zhuansun, Xinyao Meng, Heying Yang, Jun Xiao, Yingjian Chen, Jing Wang, Xiaosi Yu, Zejian Li, Jingyi You and 37 more

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Article in Genome medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

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3citing papers in PubMed
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3 citing papers in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

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47 authors.

Zhi Li *Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Didi Zhuansun *Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Xinyao Meng *Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Heying Yang *Department of Pediatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
Jun Xiao *Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Yingjian Chen *Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Jing WangDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Xiaosi YuDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Zejian LiDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Jingyi YouDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Xuyong ChenDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Chenzhao FengDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Luyao WuDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Xufeng ChuDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Weicheng DuanDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Kang WangDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Zongzhe LiDivision of Cardiology, Departments of Internal Medicine and Genetic Diagnosis Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Jinfa TouDepartment of General Surgery, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China.
Lei YuDepartment of Neonatal Surgery, Wuhan Children's Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Weibing TangDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Nanjing Children's Hospital Affiliated Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China.
Yuanmei LiuDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, 563000, China.
Xuewu JiangDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, China.
Hongxia RenDepartment of Neonatal Surgery, Children's Hospital of Shanxi, Taiyuan, Shanxi, 030013, China.
Mei YuDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Guiyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550002, China.
Qiang YinDepartment of General Surgery, Hunan Children's Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, 515041, China.
Xiang LiuDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Anhui Provincial Children's Hospital, Hefei, Anhui, 230051, China.
Zhilin XuDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150001, China.
Dianming WuDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China.
Chunlei JiaoDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Donghai YuDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Xiaojuan WuDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Tianqi ZhuDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Jixin YangDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Lei XiangDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Jing WangDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Qiong WangDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Bingyan ZhouDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Di WangDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Ke ChenDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Handan MaoDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Bin WangDepartment of General Surgery, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China.
Jianghua ZhanDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Tianjin Children's Hospital, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300134, China.
Cong-Yi WangThe Center for Biomedical Research, Tongji Hospital Research Building, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Wanjiang ZengDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
Feng ChenDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China. cfeng3000@163.com.
Bo XiongDepartment of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China. bxiong@hust.edu.cn.
Jiexiong FengDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China. 2002tj0515@hust.edu.cn.

Funding

Clinical Research Pilot Project of Tongji Hospital 2019YBKY026Hubei Provincial Key Research and Development Program 2020BCB008Innovative Research Group Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China 81721005Joint Funds for the innovation of Science and Technology, Fujian province 2023Y9159National Natural Science Foundation of China 82071685Project of Shenzhen San Ming SZSM201812055Science and Technology Innovation Base Platform 2020DCD006
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe enteric nervous system (ENS), which arises from enteric neural crest cells (ENCCs), plays important roles in many aspects of gastrointestinal tract function, including motility, secretions, blood flow and hormone release. Defects in ENS development could lead to a broad range of disorders, including Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR), which is characterized by missing nerve cells in the distal segment of the colon. Here, we identify EMB as an evolutionarily conserved regulator of ENS development.

methodsWe first examined EMB expression in human and mouse intestines using scRNA-seq data and immunofluorescence staining. To investigate its role in ENS development, we constructed Emb-knockout zebrafish and mouse models. To explore the underlying mechanisms, we focused on ENCCs and analyzed their proliferation and migration using migration assays in explant guts and organoid cultures. Finally, we assessed rare EMB variants in a cohort of HSCR patients.

resultsIn zebrafish, loss of emb leads to a decrease number of enteric neurons and impaired intestinal transit ability. In mice, knockout of Emb causes HSCR-like phenotypes and defects. In vitro experiments, including explant mouse gut and organoid cultures, show that EMB is required for both the proliferation and migration of ENCCs. Mechanistically, EMB binds to and recruits the phosphatase complex PP2A to the cellular membrane to facilitate the activation of PI3K-AKT pathway, thereby promoting ENCCs development. Indeed, application of PI3K or AKT agonists partially restores the ENS developmental defects in zebrafish emb mutants. Furthermore, rare variants of EMB may potentially contribute to the pathology of HSCR in humans.

conclusionsEMB is required for ENS development by regulating the proliferation and migration of the ENCCs. Mechanistically, EMB recruits PP2A to the cell membrane, reducing cytoplasmic dephosphorylation activity and promoting the activation of the PI3K signaling pathway.

Indexed as

Enteric Nervous SystemPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesSignal TransductionZebrafish ProteinsAnimalsCell MovementCell ProliferationHirschsprung DiseaseHumansMiceMice, KnockoutNeural CrestZebrafishPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesZebrafish ProteinsEMBEnteric nervous systemHirschsprung’s DiseaseNeural crest cellPI3K pathway

Identifiers

PMID40999499
PMCPMC12465749

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