Endothelial cell response to Hedgehog ligands depends on their processing

Abstract Rationale The therapeutic potential of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling agonists for vascular diseases is of growing interest. However, molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the role of the Hh signaling in vascular biology remain poorly understood. Objective The purpose of the present paper is to clarify some conflicting literature data. Findings With this goal we have demonstrated that, unexpectedly, ectopically administered N-terminal Sonic Hedgehog (N-Shh) and endogenous endothelial-derived Desert Hedgehog (Dhh) induce opposite effects in endothelial cells. (ECs). Notably, endothelial Dhh acts under its full-length soluble form (FL-Dhh) and activates Smoothened in ECs, while N-Shh inhibits it. At molecular level, N-Shh prevents FL-Dhh binding to Patched-1 demonstrating that N-Shh acts as competitive antagonist to FL-Dhh. Besides, we found that even though FL-Hh ligands and N-Hh ligands all bind Patched-1, they induce specific Patched-1 localization. Finally, we confirmed that in a pathophysiological setting i.e. brain inflammation, astrocyte-derived N-Shh act as a FL-Dhh antagonist. Conclusion The present study highlights for the first time that FL-Dhh and N-Hh ligands have antagonistic properties especially in ECs, and demonstrates that Hh ligands or forms of Hh ligands cannot be used instead of another for therapeutic purposes.