Role of Hedgehog signaling pathway activation in hepatocellular carcinoma for mation

Objective To investigate the role of Hedgehog signaling pathway activation in hepatocellular carcinoma formation.Methods Studied 14 HCC tissue slices,9 fresh HCC tissue samples,4 HCC cell lines and a normal hepatic cell line by using immunochemistry,Western blot and RT-PCR.Results Immunochemistry showed that in 14 HCC tissue slices,the positive ratio of the components of the Hedgehog signaling pathway Gli,Ptch,Ihh and Smo is 42.9%,71.4%,71.4% and 85.7%,respectively.Western blot,RT-PCR detected difference in the expression of the Hedgehog signaling pathway components.KAAD-cyclopamine,a specific inhibitor of the Hedgehog signaling pathway,can result in the down regulation of the expression of main Hedgehog signaling pathway components.ConclusionsIn HCC,the Hedgehog signaling pathway is often abnormally activated,KAAD-cyclopamine can specifically inhibit the Hedgehog signaling pathway.