The amount of sonic hedgehog in multiple sclerosis white matter is decreased and cleavage to the signaling peptide is deficient.

We have demonstrated that sonic hedgehog (Shh), vital for oligodendrocyte development, is present in both gray and white matter of normal human brain. Both the 45 kDa precursor protein and the 20 kDa N-terminal sonic hedgehog signaling portion (ShhN) were demonstrated by immunoblot and a partial purification has been achieved. In gray matter from brains of multiple sclerosis (MS) victims, the total amount of Shh was less than normals and the signaling 20 kDa protein was greatly reduced.