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Quantitative PCR-based Assay to Measure Sonic Hedgehog Signaling in Cellular Model of Ciliogenesis
Published on: January 31, 2025
Switched-on Sonic hedgehog: a gene whose activity extends beyond fetal development--to oncogenesis
Dejan Arsić1, Spencer W Beasley, Michael J Sullivan
1Children's Cancer and Developmental Genetics Research Group, Department of Paediatrics, Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|May 31, 2007
Summary
The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is crucial for embryonic development and its disruption causes birth defects. Aberrant Hh signaling also drives cancers, suggesting a link between embryogenesis and oncogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cancer Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Embryonic development relies on gene families regulating morphogenesis.
- The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is vital for vertebrate and invertebrate development.
- Disruptions in Hh signaling cause developmental disorders like holoprosencephaly and VATER association.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway in embryonic development and human malignancies.
- To understand the genetic control of morphogenesis and its relation to congenital abnormalities and cancer.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on Hedgehog (Hh) signaling in development and cancer.
- Analysis of the impact of Sonic hedgehog disruption on embryonic development.
- Examination of Hh pathway activation in various human cancers.
Main Results:
- Sonic hedgehog (Shh) disruption is linked to brain developmental disorders.
- Inappropriate Hh pathway activation is observed in post-embryonic malignancies.
- Inhibition of Hh signaling reduces the growth of diverse tumors, indicating pathway dependence.
Conclusions:
- Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is essential for both normal embryonic development and the progression of certain cancers.
- Congenital abnormalities and oncogenesis may share closer mechanistic links than previously understood.
- Further research into developmental gene control can illuminate causes of birth defects and cancers.
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