Therapeutic potential of hedgehog signaling pathway agonist

The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays an important role in the growth, development, and homeostasis of many tissues in vertebrates and invertebrates in embryonic stage. However, Hh signaling is also involved in postnatal processes such as tissue repair and adult immune responses. To some extent, Hh signaling has also been shown to be a target for some pathogens like HIV, EVB and influenza that presumably utilize the pathway to control the local infected environment. In present review, we discuss the detailed mechanism of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway involved in various disease being a target. We also give a range of agonist and on the possibility of using small molecule modulators of Hh signaling as effective therapies for a wider range of human diseases.