Analysis of Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Pathway Gene Expression in Basal Cell Carcinoma and GLI-Induced Systems

The study investigated the molecular mechanisms of the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signalling pathway in Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) formation, focusing on the role of GLI transcription factors. It was found that genes such as GLI1, GLI2, GLI3, PTCH, SMO, and KLF4 were differentially expressed in BCC compared to normal skin. The research demonstrated that GLI1 and FOXE1 are direct targets of GLI2, and their expression in normal skin and BCC suggests a link between hair follicles and BCC. The study also revealed that Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) signalling affects GLI1 activity, potentially explaining the low metastasis rate of BCC. Additionally, GLI1 was shown to upregulate a stem cell-like signature, while EGF downregulated it. The findings aimed to enhance understanding of SHH signalling and its interactions, contributing to the development of improved therapeutic strategies for BCC.