Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)is a disease characterized by airflow obstruction,with high prevalence and mortality rates.The Hedgehog(HH)signaling pathway plays a key role in regulating and controlling the morphology and development of tissues and the damage repair.It has been found that COPD is closely related to the HH signaling pathway,and that some important signaling molecules in this pathway can ameliorate inflammation and fibrosis when airway impairment induces inflammatory responses.An in-depth understanding of the roles of the HH signaling pathway in the development of COPD will facilitate further discovery and research into therapeutic targets for this disease.By introducing the HH pathway and critical signaling molecules affecting the lung development and regulating inflammatory responses in COPD,this review is of great significance for gaining insights into the pathophysiological processes of COPD,and provides a theoretical basis for the treatment of COPD by targeting the HH signaling pathway.
chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseHedgehog signaling pathwayairway inflammationmechanism of action