Use of anoctamin 1 (ANO1) to evaluate interstitial cells of Cajal in Hirschsprung's disease.

Purpose: Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are pacemaker cells involved in facilitating neurotransmission and the generation of slow electrical waves necessary for colonic peristalsis. Their distribution has been found to be abnormal in the aganglionic and ganglionic colon in Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) using c-kit-labelling. Anoctamin-1 (ANO1) is a Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) channel thought to be specifically expressed on ICCs.