scholarly journals Generating a Wnt switch: it’s all about the right dosage

2011 ◽  
Vol 193 (3) ◽  
pp. 431-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans A. Kestler ◽  
Michael Kühl
Keyword(s):  
Wnt Signaling ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Wnt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Wnt Proteins ◽  
Cell Biol ◽  
Tissue Patterning ◽  
Wnt Ligands ◽  
The Right

Wnt proteins can activate different branches of the Wnt signaling pathway, raising the question of specificity. In this issue, Nalesso et al. (2011. J. Cell Biol. doi:10.1083/jcb.201011051) provide an answer to this conundrum by showing that different concentrations of Wnt ligands can elicit different intracellular responses. These findings not only provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying Wnt signaling, but also indicate how Wnt gradients might contribute to tissue patterning during embryogenesis.

scholarly journals DNA methylation mediated RSPO2 to promote follicular development in mammals

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaofeng Zhou ◽  
Yingting He ◽  
Nian Li ◽  
Guofeng Bai ◽  
Xiangchun Pan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Wnt Signaling ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Methylation Level ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cpg Island ◽  
Wnt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Follicular Development ◽  
Expression Level

AbstractIn female mammals, the proliferation, apoptosis, and estradiol-17β (E2) secretion of granulosa cells (GCs) have come to decide the fate of follicles. DNA methylation and RSPO2 gene of Wnt signaling pathway have been reported to involve in the survival of GCs and follicular development. However, the molecular mechanisms for how DNA methylation regulates the expression of RSPO2 and participates in the follicular development are not clear. In this study, we found that the mRNA and protein levels of RSPO2 significantly increased during follicular development, but the DNA methylation level of RSPO2 promoter decreased gradually. Inhibition of DNA methylation or DNMT1 knockdown could decrease the methylation level of CpG island (CGI) in RSPO2 promoter and upregulate the expression level of RSPO2 in porcine GCs. The hypomethylation of −758/−749 and −563/−553 regions in RSPO2 promoter facilitated the occupancy of transcription factor E2F1 and promoted the transcriptional activity of RSPO2. Moreover, RSPO2 promoted the proliferation of GCs with increasing the expression level of PCNA, CDK1, and CCND1 and promoted the E2 secretion of GCs with increasing the expression level of CYP19A1 and HSD17B1 and inhibited the apoptosis of GCs with decreasing the expression level of Caspase3, cleaved Caspase3, cleaved Caspase8, cleaved Caspase9, cleaved PARP, and BAX. In addition, RSPO2 knockdown promoted the apoptosis of GCs, blocked the development of follicles, and delayed the onset of puberty with decreasing the expression level of Wnt signaling pathway-related genes (LGR4 and CTNNB1) in vivo. Taken together, the hypomethylation of −758/−749 and −563/−553 regions in RSPO2 promoter facilitated the occupancy of E2F1 and enhanced the transcription of RSPO2, which further promoted the proliferation and E2 secretion of GCs, inhibited the apoptosis of GCs, and ultimately ameliorated the development of follicles through Wnt signaling pathway. This study will provide useful information for further exploration on DNA-methylation-mediated RSPO2 pathway during follicular development.

Evaluation of MACF1-regulatory non-coding RNA as a potential therapeutic target in Colorectal Cancer

QJM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 114 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rowaida Mohammed Reda M. M Aboushahba ◽  
Fayda Ibrahim Abdel Motaleb ◽  
Ahmed Abdel Aziz Abou-Zeid ◽  
Enas Samir Nabil ◽  
Dalia Abdel-Wahab Mohamed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Wnt Signaling ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Therapeutic Target ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Wnt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Potential Therapeutic Target

ABSTRACT Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths world-wide. There is an increasing need for the identification of novel biomarkers/targets for early diagnosis and for the development of novel chemopreventive and therapeutic agents for CRC. Recently, MACF1 gene has emerged as a potential therapeutic target in cancer as it involved in processes critical for tumor cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis. It is suggested that MACF1 may function in cancers through Wnt signaling. MiR-34a is a well-known tumor suppressor miRNA.miR-34a targets MACF1 gene as a part of the wnt signaling pathway. In this study, 40 colonic tissues were collected from CRC patients (20) and control subjects (20). miR-34a-5p was assessed by real time PCR in all study groups. The results showed highly significant decrease (P < 0.01) in miR-34a relative expression in the CRC group (median RQ 0.13) when compared to the benign group (median RQ 5.3) and the healthy control group (median RQ 19.63). miR-34a mimic and inhibitor were transfected in CaCo-2 cell line and proliferation was assessed. The transfection of the cell line with miR-34a mimic decreased cell proliferation. Our study suggests that miR-34a-5p targets MACF1 gene as a part of the wnt signaling pathway leading to the involvement in the molecular mechanisms of CRC development and progression.

scholarly journals Wnt Signaling in Vascular Calcification

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaylee Bundy ◽  
Jada Boone ◽  
C. LaShan Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Wnt Signaling ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Vascular Calcification ◽  
Arterial Wall ◽  
Wnt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Phenotypic Switch ◽  
Wnt Ligands ◽  
And Function ◽  
Canonical Wnt

Cardiovascular disease is a worldwide epidemic and considered the leading cause of death globally. Due to its high mortality rates, it is imperative to study the underlying causes and mechanisms of the disease. Vascular calcification, or the buildup of hydroxyapatite within the arterial wall, is one of the greatest contributors to cardiovascular disease. Medial vascular calcification is a predictor of cardiovascular events such as, but not limited to, hypertension, stiffness, and even heart failure. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), which line the arterial wall and function to maintain blood pressure, are hypothesized to undergo a phenotypic switch into bone-forming cells during calcification, mimicking the manner by which mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into osteoblast cells throughout osteogenesis. RunX2, a transcription factor necessary for osteoblast differentiation and a target gene of the Wnt signaling pathway, has also shown to be upregulated when calcification is present, implicating that the Wnt cascade may be a key player in the transdifferentiation of VSMCs. It is important to note that the phenotypic switch of VSMCs from a healthy, contractile state to a proliferative, synthetic state is necessary in response to the vascular injury surrounding calcification. The lingering question, however, is if VSMCs acquire this synthetic phenotype through the Wnt pathway, how and why does this signaling occur? This review seeks to highlight the potential role of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway within vascular calcification based on several studies and further discuss the Wnt ligands that specifically aid in VSMC transdifferentiation.

Wnt Production in Dental Epithelium Is Crucial for Tooth Differentiation

2019 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 580-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Xiong ◽  
Y. Fang ◽  
Y. Qian ◽  
Y. Liu ◽  
X. Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wnt Signaling ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Tooth Development ◽  
Wnt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Conditional Knockout ◽  
Canonical Wnt Signaling ◽  
Odontoblast Differentiation ◽  
Wnt Ligands ◽  
Dental Epithelium ◽  
Canonical Wnt

The Wnt ligands display varied spatiotemporal expression in the epithelium and mesenchyme in the developing tooth. Thus far, the actions of these differentially expressed Wnt ligands on tooth development are not clear. Shh expression specifies the odontogenic epithelium during initiation and is consistently restricted to the dental epithelium during tooth development. In this study, we inactivate Wntless ( Wls), the key regulator for Wnt trafficking, by Shh-Cre to investigate how the Wnt ligands produced in the dental epithelium lineage act on tooth development. We find that conditional knockout of Wls by Shh-Cre leads to defective ameloblast and odontoblast differentiation. WlsShh-Cre teeth display reduced canonical Wnt signaling activity in the inner enamel epithelium and the underlying mesenchyme at the early bell stage, as exhibited by target gene expression and BAT-gal staining. The expression of Wnt5a and Wnt10b is not changed in WlsShh-Cre teeth. By contrast, Wnt10a expression is significantly increased in response to epithelial Wls deficiency. In addition, the expression of Hedgehog signaling pathway components Shh, Gli1, and Patched1 was greatly decreased in WlsShh-Cre teeth. Epithelial Wls loss of function in Shh lineage also leads to aberrant cell proliferation in dental epithelium and mesenchyme at embryonic day 16.5; however, the cell apoptosis is unaffected. Moreover, we find that Decorin and Col1a1, the key markers for odontoblast differentiation that are downregulated in WlsShh-Cre teeth, act as direct downstream targets of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway by chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis. Additionally, Decorin and Col1a1 expression can be increased by lithium chloride (LiCl) treatment in the in vitro tooth explants. Taken together, our results suggest that the spatial expression of Wnt ligands within the dental epithelial lineage regulates the differentiation of tooth structures in later stages.

scholarly journals Autophagy Is Required for Hepatic Differentiation of Hepatic Progenitor Cells via Wnt Signaling Pathway

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Jianxing Zeng ◽  
Yingying Jing ◽  
Qionglan Wu ◽  
Jinhua Zeng ◽  
Lixin Wei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wnt Signaling ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Wnt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Hepatic Progenitor Cells ◽  
Hepatic Differentiation ◽  
Development And Differentiation ◽  
Progenitor Cell Line

The molecular mechanisms regulating differentiation of hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs), which play pivotal roles in liver regeneration and development, remain obscure. Autophagy and Wnt signaling pathways regulate the development and differentiation of stem cells in various organs. However, the roles of autophagy and Wnt signaling pathways in hepatic differentiation of HPCs are not well understood. Here, we describe the effects of autophagy and Wnt signaling pathways during hepatic differentiation of HPCs. We used a well-established rat hepatic progenitor cell line called WB-F344, which was treated with differentiation medium to promote differentiation of WB-F344 cells along the hepatic phenotype. Firstly, autophagy was highly activated in HPCs and gradually decreased during hepatic differentiation of HPCs. Induction of autophagy by rapamycin or starvation suppressed hepatic differentiation of HPCs. Secondly, Wnt3a signaling pathway was downregulated, and Wnt5a signaling pathway was upregulated in hepatic differentiation of HPCs. At last, Wnt3a signaling pathway was enhanced, and Wnt5a signaling pathway was inhibited by activation of autophagy during hepatic differentiation of HPCs. In summary, these results demonstrate that autophagy regulates hepatic differentiation of hepatic progenitor cells through Wnt signaling pathway.

Targeting Wnt Signaling through Small molecules in Governing Stem Cell Fate and Diseases

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antara Banerjee ◽  
Ganesan Jothimani ◽  
Suhanya Veronica Prasad ◽  
Francesco Marotta ◽  
Surajit Pathak
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Wnt Signaling ◽  
Small Molecules ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Wnt Pathway ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Wnt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Stem Cell Fate

Background:The conserved Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is responsible for multiple functions including regulation of stem cell pluripotency, cell migration, self-renewability and cell fate determination. This signaling pathway is of utmost importance, owing to its ability to fuel tissue repair and regeneration of stem cell activity in diverse organs. The human adult stem cells including hematopoietic cells, intestinal cells, mammary and mesenchymal cells rely on the manifold effects of Wnt pathway. The consequences of any dysfunction or manipulation in the Wnt genes or Wnt pathway components result in specific developmental defects and may even lead to cancer, as it is often implicated in stem cell control. It is absolutely essential to possess a comprehensive understanding of the inhibition and/ or stimulation of the Wnt signaling pathway which in turn is implicated in determining the fate of the stem cells.Results:In recent years, there has been considerable interest in the studies associated with the implementation of small molecule compounds in key areas of stem cell biology including regeneration differentiation, proliferation. In support of this statement, small molecules have unfolded as imperative tools to selectively activate and inhibit specific developmental signaling pathways involving the less complex mechanism of action. These compounds have been reported to modulate the core molecular mechanisms by which the stem cells regenerate and differentiate.Conclusion:This review aims to provide an overview of the prevalent trends in the small molecules based regulation of stem cell fate via targeting the Wnt signaling pathway.

scholarly journals Wnt Signaling in Red Blood Cells

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 4806-4806
Author(s):  
Rina Rosin-Arbesfeld ◽  
Michal Caspi ◽  
Ronen Siman-Tov ◽  
Yakir Levi ◽  
Chava Perry
Keyword(s):  
Life Span ◽  
Wnt Signaling ◽  
Red Blood Cells ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
Wnt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Signaling Cascades ◽  
Canonical Wnt Signaling ◽  
Wnt Ligands ◽  
Canonical Wnt

Abstract Introduction : Red blood cells (RBCs) are the most common cell type in the human body. These cells deliver oxygen to the body's tissues and are composed of a cytoplasm that is rich in hemoglobin and is surrounded by a membrane that is essential for the cells function by providing properties such as stability and deformability. The membrane is composed of a lipid bilayer, transmembrane proteins, and a filamentous meshwork of proteins such as actin and adducin that forms the cells cytoskeleton along the entire cytoplasmic surface of the membrane. RBCs lack a nucleus and other cellular organelles that enable gene expression. Thus, it has been assumed, that signaling cascades such as the Wnt signaling pathway are not active in RBCs. The Wnt pathways are fundamental for normal development and homeostasis and regulate, among other, cell growth, motility and differentiation. Although there is no functional data connecting between Wnt signaling and RBCs, previous proteomic studies have shown that some of the non-canonical Wnt signaling components, such as specific small GTPases and kinases are present in RBCs. In this study, we show for the first time that Wnt ligands activate signaling cascades in RBCs. Methods : RBCs were collect from healthy donors and treated with different Wnt ligands. A large number of methods were used to evaluate the RBCs morphological properties, life span, vitality, flexibility and protein expression patterns. Results : Our results clearly show that different Wnt ligands can dramatically increase the live span of RBCs by affecting the cells membrane cytoskeleton. Some of the Wnts affects include activation of GTPases such as Rac, JNK and RhoA, which lead to actin modification. These changes in the actin cytoskeleton result in increased membrane stability. In parallel, treating RBCs with Wnts leads to activation of PKC and RhoA resulting in phosphorylation of adducin which in turn increases the cells membrane flexibility and improves the vitality of the cell. Summary : Our novel findings indicate that the non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway in RBCs is active and can stabilize the RBCs cytoskeleton enhancing the vitality, deformability and life span of the cell. These novel findings may help in the development of new therapeutic strategies for people suffering from different hemolytic disease that effect the RBCs cytoskeleton and provide new insights into the improvement of stored RBC units. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Advancement of Wnt signal pathway and the target of breast cancer

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quan Liang ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
Zhanchao Zhao ◽  
Qiang Fu
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Wnt Signaling ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cancer Metastasis ◽  
Wnt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Signal Pathway ◽  
Bkca Channels ◽  
Wnt Signal Pathway ◽  
Wnt Signal

AbstractWnt/β-catenin signaling has been proved to play an important role in the development and promotion of cancer metastasis. The activation of Wnt signals can lead to duplicating, updating, metastasizing and relapsing. The Wnt signaling pathway is mainly divided into the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and the Wnt/calcium pathway. A better understanding of all the diverse functions of Wnt and their molecular mechanisms has evoked prevailing interest in identifying additional targets related to the Wnt /β-catenin pathways in breast cancer. A number of new target, related to Wnt /β-catenin pathways have been identified in recent years, including NOP14, BKCa channels, Emilin2, WISP, MicroRNAs, NRBP1, TRAF4, and Wntless. In this review, we will introduce the new targets related to the Wnt /β-catenin pathways in breast cancer.

scholarly journals Porcupine Inhibitor LGK974 Downregulates the Wnt Signaling Pathway and Inhibits Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianyi Li ◽  
Guangzhen Wu ◽  
Yingkun Xu ◽  
Jiatong Li ◽  
Ningke Ruan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renal Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Wnt Signaling ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Renal Cancer ◽  
Renal Cell ◽  
Clear Cell ◽  
Wnt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Wnt Proteins

Targeted therapy for kidney cancer has achieved significant clinical results. However, because most patients who use targeted therapy will develop drug resistance, we still need to constantly explore new therapeutic targets. Although porcupine (PORCN) as a palmitoyltransferase plays a crucial role in the activation and secretion of Wnt proteins and affects the activity of the Wnt signaling pathway, little is known about the role of PORCN in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). We found that PORCN is highly expressed in renal cancer cell lines and patients with renal cell carcinoma with high expression of PORCN have a poor prognosis. Pathway analysis of PORCN and its related proteins showed that PORCN played a role through the Wnt signaling pathway, and there was a strong coexpression relationship between PORCN and Wnt proteins. Therefore, PORCN may be a potential and effective target for ccRCC. In the present study, we found that LGK974 could inhibit proliferation and colony formation and induce apoptosis in ccRCC cells. We also found that LGK974 could inhibit the migration and invasion of renal cell carcinoma and reduce the expression of mesenchymal markers. After treatment with LGK974, the expression level of β-catenin, a key protein in the classical Wnt pathway, was significantly decreased, and the expression levels of the target genes cyclin D1, c-Myc, MMP9, and MMP2 in the Wnt signaling pathway were also significantly decreased, which represented a significant decrease in the activity of the Wnt signaling pathway. At the same time, the cycle of renal cancer cells was significantly blocked. In conclusion, our results indicate that LGK974 could significantly inhibit the progression of renal cancer cells in a safe concentration range, so PORCN may be a safe and effective target for patients with renal cancer.

scholarly journals Wnt-β-Catenin Signaling Promotes the Maturation of Mast Cells

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoko Yamaguchi ◽  
Misae Nishijima ◽  
Katsuhisa Tashiro ◽  
Kenji Kawabata
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Mast Cell ◽  
Mast Cells ◽  
Wnt Signaling ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Histidine Decarboxylase ◽  
Wnt Signaling Pathway ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Peripheral Tissues ◽  
Wnt Proteins

Mast cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. Immature mast cells migrate into peripheral tissues from the bone marrow and undergo complete maturation. Interestingly, mast cells have characteristics similar to hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), such as self-renewal and c-kit expression. In HSCs, Wnt signaling is involved in their maintenance and differentiation. On the other hand, the relation between Wnt signaling and mast cell differentiation is poorly understood. To study whether Wnt signals play a role in the maturation of mast cells, we studied the effect of Wnt proteins on mast cell maturation of bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs). The expression levels of CD81 protein and histidine decarboxylase mRNA and activity of mast cell-specific protease were all elevated in BMMCs treated with Wnt5a. In addition, Wnt5a induced the expression of Axin2 and TCF mRNA in BMMCs. These results showed that Wnt5a could promote the maturation of mast cells via the canonical Wnt signaling pathway and provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the differentiation of mast cells.

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