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Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences: CMLS logoLink to Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences: CMLS
. 2006 Feb 7;63(6):642–652. doi: 10.1007/s00018-005-5357-z

Hedgehog signaling in pancreas development and disease

J Lau 1, H Kawahira 1,2, M Hebrok 1,
PMCID: PMC11136107  PMID: 16465449

Abstract.

Since its discovery, numerous studies have shown that the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays an instrumental role during diverse processes of cell differentiation and organ development. More recently, it has become evident that Hh signaling is not restricted to developmental events, but retains some of its activity during adult life. In mature tissues, Hh signaling has been implicated in the maintenance of stem cell niches in the brain, renewal of the gut epithelium and differentiation of hematopoietic cells. In addition to the basal function in adult tissue, deregulated signaling has been implicated in a variety of cancers, including basal cell carcinoma, glioma and small cell lung cancer. Here, we will focus on the role of Hh signaling in pancreas development and pancreatic diseases, including diabetes mellitus, chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

Key words. Hedgehog, Indian Hedgehog, Desert Hedgehog, pancreas development, pancreatic cancer, chronic pancreatitis, islets of Langerhans

Footnotes

Received 5 August 2005; received after revision 4 November 2005; accepted 22 November 2005


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