Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Quantitative PCR-based Assay to Measure Sonic Hedgehog Signaling in Cellular Model of Ciliogenesis
Published on: January 31, 2025
Hedgehog signalling pathway activation in gastrointestinal stromal tumours is mediated by primary cilia
Pablo Iruzubieta1,2, Marta Monzón3, Tomás Castiella4,5
1Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. pablo.iruzubieta@hotmail.es.
Background:
Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) is a mesenchymal cancer which derives from interstitial cells of Cajal. To determine whether a relationship between Hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathway and primary cilia exists in GIST tumours is intended here.
Methods:
Immunohistochemical, immunofluorescence and ultrastructural techniques were performed in this study.
Results:
We show that GIST cells present primary cilia (an antenna-like structure based on microtubules). But, moreover, we prove Hedgehog signalling pathway activation in these tumours (a pathway related with tumoural features such as proliferation, migration or stemness) and we show for the first time that this signalling pathway activation in GIST is mediated by primary cilia, likely in a paracrine way.
Conclusion:
Thus, primary cilia and Hedgehog signalling would be fundamental in tumoural microenvironment control of GIST cells for their maintenance, differentiation and proliferation.
Related Concept Videos
Hedgehog Signaling Pathway
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
Notch Signaling Pathway
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not...
Insulin: The Receptor and Signaling Pathways
IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway
Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway

