Hedgehog (Hh) Signaling Pathway Antagonists
The Hedgehog signaling pathway is one of the key regulators of animal development. The Hedgehog (Hh) proteins are a group of secreted proteins that regulate cell growth, differentiation and survival as part of the developmental process. The expression of these proteins at the correct time in the correct amount within a designated set of cells leads to organogenesis during embryonic development and stem cell proliferation in adults for the maintenance and regeneration of adult tissues.
Historically, the pathway received its name from an intercellular signaling molecule called Hedgehog (Hh) found in fruit flies (Drosophila). Mammals have three Hedgehog homologues: DHH (Desert Hedgehog), IHH (Indian Hedgehog) and SHH (sonic Hedgehog), of which Sonic is the most studied one. In mice this pathway is involved in the development of the brain, skeleton, musculature, gastrointestinal tract and lungs.
Various research studies have concluded that Hedgehog signaling pathway components have an important role in angiogenesis, metastasis and suppression of apoptosis in mammalian cells. Incorrect activation (wrong time, wrong cells or wrong levels of expression) of the Hh signaling pathway ligands/proteins has been linked to the development of prostate, lung, pancreas, breast, brain and skin cancer. Efforts to target pathogenic Hh signaling events have led to the recent approval of the Hh pathway inhibitor Vismodegib for the treatment of advanced basal cell carcinoma. Moreover, Cyclopamine is currently undergoing preclinical and clinical studies as an anticancer agent in basal cell carcinoma, medulloblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. Saridegib (IPI-926) has shown hopeful results in Phase I clinical trial of advanced solid tumors. These Hh pathway inhibitors form a new class of compounds that can help treat a wide variety of cancers and thus can usher in a new era in cancer therapy. BioVision is proud to offer a variety of Hedgehog pathway antagonists for research purposes.
