Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of the study is to examine the expression levels of the GATA6 and TBX3 genes in hernia sacs from patients with indirect inguinal hernia (IIH) in the Trakya region, Türkiye and shed light on the etiology of this common surgical disease in childhood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, GATA6 and TBX3 gene expression and single nucleotide polymorphism analyses were conducted on tissue samples obtained from 20 boys with IIH (study group) and 20 circumcised children (control group) who were operated in Trakya University Hospital, Pediatric Surgery Clinic. The tissue samples were collected from IIH sacs and prepuces. RNA isolation from tissue and complementary DNA (cDNA) synthesis were performed in accordance with the protocols of the kits used. In the DNA sequence variants (DSVs) study, DNA isolation was performed in accordance with the protocol of the kit used Allelic discrimination was also performed for the GATA6 rs1416421760 and rs1040912117 and TBX3 rs968910973 DVSs. Mann-Whitney U test was used to statistically compare the outcomes. RESULTS: The expression of GATA6 demonstrated a significant increase (p < 0.001), while TBX3 expression exhibited a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in the study group. In terms of genotype and allele frequencies of GATA6 rs1416421760, rs1040912117, and TBX3 rs968910973 DSVs, no statistically significant difference was found between the study and control groups. CONCLUSION: According to the results of the study, it can be asserted that dysfunctions in the GATA6 and TBX3-mediated stages of the apoptotic pathway may contribute to the development of IIH.