Journal of International Reproductive Health/Family Planning ›› 2021, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (3): 247-251.doi: 10.12280/gjszjk.20200592

• Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research Progress of Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Pathway in Intrauterine Adhesion Fibrosis

WANG Yi-xiang, WU Lu-ming, WANG Yi-qing, ZHANG Xue-hong()   

  1. The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China (WANG Yi-xiang, WU Lu-ming); Reproductive Medicine Center, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Embryo of Gansu Province, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China (WANG Yi-qing, ZHANG Xue-hong)
  • Received:2020-10-22 Published:2021-05-15 Online:2021-05-28
  • Contact: ZHANG Xue-hong E-mail:zhangxueh@lzu.edu.cn

Abstract:

The main mechanisms of intrauterine adhesion (IUA) include endometrial basal layer injury, endometrial repair disorders and fibrotic healing, which leads to amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, recurrent pregnancy loss or low fertility. Endometrial fibrosis is related to the development of IUA, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms of IUA are still unclear. The sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway plays a key role in embryonic development, tissue regeneration and organogenesis. In recent years, more and more studies have shown that SHH signaling is involved in the pathogenesis of fibrosis in various tissues. The activated SHH signaling pathway participates in the induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tissue fibrosis, and promotes the transformation and fibrosis of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. SHH signals are activated in IUA diseases, indicating that there is a potential link between the abnormal regulation of this signal and endometrial fibrosis. This review summarizes the research progress of SHH signaling pathway and IUA fibrosis.

Key words: Tissue adhesions, Endometrium, Hedgehog proteins, Signal transduction, Fibrosis, Epithelial-mesenchymal transition, Intrauterine adhesion