Involvement of the hedgehog signaling pathway in liver diseases.

The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is an important cellular communication cascade that plays a crucial role in tissue morphogenesis during embryonic development. Moreover, in adults, it participates in tissue homeostasis and cell regeneration processes. Its inhibition in the embryonic stage causes craniofacial malformations. In contrast, its aberrant activation in adults is related mainly to the pathogenesis of several types of cancer and chronic liver diseases. Treatment with cyclopamine, a natural alkaloid responsible for the inhibition of this pathway, has been used at an experimental level, resulting in the reversal of damage, which has contributed to the search for new complementary or specific therapeutic alternatives against these medically important diseases. This review summarizes the current knowledge concerning the role of Hh signaling in liver homeostasis and disease progression. A deeper understanding of this pathway may provide novel insights for the development of targeted interventions for liver disease.