Advances in Study on Hedgehog Signaling Pathway in Pathogenesis of Barrett’s Esophagus / 胃肠病学

ABSTRACT

Hedgehog( Hh)signaling pathway is evolutionarily conserved in vertebrates,its excessive activation is associated with abnormal cell differentiation, over proliferation, apoptosis resistance and promotion of invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. Hh signaling pathway involves in the formation and maintenance of esophageal columnar epithelium in embryonic stage,however,undetectable or barely expressed in matured esophageal squamous epithelium. Studies have shown that esophageal Hh signaling pathway can be activated by gastric acid and bile salts. Aberrant activation of Hh signaling pathway can cause the gradual transition of squamous epithelium to columnar epithelium and intestinal-type epithelium,ultimately induces the occurrence of Barrett’s esophagus( BE). Therefore,targeted inhibiting the Hh signaling pathway may be a new strategy for the treatment of BE. This article reviewed the advances in study on Hh signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of BE.