An overview of hedgehog signaling in fibrosis.
The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays a key role during embryogenesis and tissue regeneration. Recently, studies revealed that overactivated Hh signaling leads to fibrogenesis in many types of tissues. The activation of Hh signaling is involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and excessive extracellular matrix deposition. Blockade of Hh signaling abolishes the induction of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and ameliorates tissue fibrosis. Therefore, new therapeutic targets to alleviate fibrosis based on the Hh signaling have attracted a great deal of attention. This is a new strategy for treating fibrosis and other related diseases. In this review, we discuss the crucial role of Hh signaling in fibrogenesis to provide a better understanding of their relationship and to encourage the study of novel targeted therapies.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou (L.H., X.L., H.L.); Department of Laboratory Medicine, JianLi County People's Hospital, Jingzhou (L.H.); and Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou (B.C., Y.B.), People's Republic of China.
Liping
L
Hu
Department of Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou (L.H., X.L., H.L.); Department of Laboratory Medicine, JianLi County People's Hospital, Jingzhou (L.H.); and Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou (B.C., Y.B.), People's Republic of China.
Xiangyang
X
Lin
Department of Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou (L.H., X.L., H.L.); Department of Laboratory Medicine, JianLi County People's Hospital, Jingzhou (L.H.); and Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou (B.C., Y.B.), People's Republic of China.
Hong
H
Lu
Department of Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou (L.H., X.L., H.L.); Department of Laboratory Medicine, JianLi County People's Hospital, Jingzhou (L.H.); and Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou (B.C., Y.B.), People's Republic of China.
Bicheng
B
Chen
Department of Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou (L.H., X.L., H.L.); Department of Laboratory Medicine, JianLi County People's Hospital, Jingzhou (L.H.); and Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou (B.C., Y.B.), People's Republic of China baiyongheng@hotmail.com.
Yongheng
Y
Bai
D000818:Animals; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
D053823:Hedgehog Proteins