The Emerging Role of Hedgehog Signaling in Viral Infections

Abstract

The hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway is one of the key pathways that is indispensable for many developmental processes and postnatal tissue homeostasis. Dysregulated HH signaling could lead to developmental disorders and tumorigenesis in a variety of tissues via inherited or sporadic mutation, gene overexpression, and crosstalk with other signaling pathways. Recently, accumulating evidence has shown that HH signaling is targeted by viruses to facilitate viral transcription, immune evasion, and uncontrolled growth, leading to effective viral replication and pathogenesis. In this study, we will summarize recent advances in functional interaction between HH signaling and different types of viruses, particularly focusing on the pathological role of HH signaling in viral infections and related diseases.