Sonic hedgehog signaling modulates activation of and cytokine production by human peripheral CD4+ T cells.

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is important in the growth and differentiation of a variety of cell types, including the development of T cells in the thymus. This prompted us to investigate whether Shh signaling is a functional component of the physiological response of human mature CD4(+) T cells following Ag recognition. In this study, we demonstrate that Shh and its receptor Patched (Ptc) are expressed on resting and activated human peripheral CD4(+) T cells.

Sonic hedgehog promotes cell cycle progression in activated peripheral CD4(+) T lymphocytes.

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling is important in the growth and differentiation of many cell types and recently has been reported to play a role in T cell development in the thymus. This prompted us to investigate whether or not Shh contributes to the clonal expansion of peripheral CD4(+) T cells. In this study, we demonstrate that Shh and other components of the signaling pathway patched, smoothened, and Gli1 (glioma-associated oncogene) are expressed in peripheral CD4(+) T cells.