WNT7A regulates tumor growth and progression in ovarian cancer through the WNT/β-catenin pathway

Abnormal activation the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway has been associated with ovarian carcinomas, but a specific WNT ligand and pertinent downstream mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we found abundant WNT7A in the epithelium of serous ovarian carcinomas, but not detected in borderline and benign tumors, normal ovary, or endometrioid carcinomas. To characterize the role of WNT7A in ovarian tumor growth and progression, nude mice were injected either intraperitoneally or subcutaneously with WNT7A knocked down SKOV3.ip1 and overexpressed SKOV3 cells. In the intraperitoneal group, mice receiving SKOV3.ip1 cells with reduced WNT7A expression developed significantly fewer tumor lesions. Gross and histologic examination revealed greatly reduced invasion of WNT7A knockdown cells into intestinal mesentery and serosa compared with the control cells. Tumor growth was regulated by loss or overexpression of WNT7A in mice receiving subcutaneous injection as well. In vitro analysis of cell function revealed that cell proliferation, adhesion, and invasion were regulated by WNT7A. The activity of the T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (TCF/LEF) reporter was stimulated by overexpression of WNT7A in ovarian cancer cells. Cotransfection with WNT7A and FZD5 receptor further increased activity, and this effect was inhibited by cotransfection with SFRP2 or dominant negative TCF4. Overexpression of WNT7A stimulated matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7) promoter, and mutation of TCF-binding sites in MMP7 promoter confirmed that activation of MMP7 promoter by WNT7A was mediated by β-catenin/TCF signaling. Collectively, these results suggest that reexpression of WNT7A during malignant transformation of ovarian epithelial cells plays a critical role in ovarian cancer progression mediated by WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway.     

经典WNT信号通路与哺乳动物肺器官发育

肺器官发育是上皮和问充质相互作用的过程,由多条信号通路共同调控。已知经典WNT信号通路对细胞的增殖、凋亡和分化起着重要的调控作用,在小鼠等模式生物上研究发现,它也参与了哺乳动物肺器官发育的调控过程。综述近年来经典WNT信号通路成员在哺乳动物肺器官发育过程中的表达变化、作用功能及表达异常可能诱发的肺部疾病,以期为研究经典WNT信号通路调控人类肺器官发育的分子机制及相关肺部疾病的诊治奠定基础。     

WNT家族在脊椎动物骨骼发育中的作用机制

脊椎动物骨骼系统起源于中胚层间充质细胞,起初,这些细胞定向分化形成软骨原基,后者经软骨内骨化发育为成熟的骨骼系统。近年来,很多研究表明,WNT家族与其相关作用成分在骨发育过程中发挥了重要作用,通过在细胞分化不同阶段的正向或负向调控机制,保证了软骨细胞在特定的位置以合适的速率有序分化。在WNT家族及其作用途径的相关信号分子中,无论何种亚型或分子的异常表达都可能破坏WNT系统维系的正负平衡机制,导致骨骼系统畸形。了解WNT系统的作用机制有助于深入探究骨骼系统发生的相关调控机理。     

WNT信号通路相关基因R-spondin2的研究进展

R-spondin2基因是R-spondin基因家族成员之一,能够通过与Frizzled/LRP5/6受体形成复合物从而激活经典WNT信号通路。本文将综述R-spondin2基因的结构和功能及其与WNT信号通路之间的联系。     

骨髓间充质干细胞定向分化的经典WNT机制

骨髓间充质干细胞的定向分化一直是干细胞研究的重点,在其分化过程中有多条信号通路参与和调节。目前,Wnt通路在骨髓间充质干细胞定向分化过程中的作用是国外的研究热点。研究发现经典Wnt通路的激活与骨髓间充质干细胞的定向分化高度相关,故将其近年来的研究综述如下,从而为骨质疏松等疾病的治疗以及骨组织工程的发展提供必要的参考依据。     

β-Catenin-dependent pathway activation by both promiscuous “canonical” WNT3a–, and specific “noncanonical” WNT4– and WNT5a–FZD receptor combinations with strong differences in LRP5 and LRP6 dependency

The WNT/β-catenin signalling cascade is the best-investigated frizzled receptor (FZD) pathway, however, whether and how specific combinations of WNT/FZD and co-receptors LRP5 and LRP6 differentially affect this pathway are not well understood. This is mostly due to the fact that there are 19 WNTs, 10 FZDs and at least two co-receptors. In our attempt to identify the signalling capabilities of specific WNT/FZD/LRP combinations we made use of our previously reported TCF/LEF Gaussia luciferase reporter gene HEK293 cell line (Ring et al., 2011). Generation of WNT/FZD fusion constructs – but not their separate transfection – without or with additional isogenic overexpression of LRP5 and LRP6 in our reporter cells permitted the investigation of specific WNT/FZD/LRP combinations. The canonical WNT3a in fusion to almost all FZDs was able to induce β-catenin-dependent signalling with strong dependency on LRP6 but not LRP5. Interestingly, noncanonical WNT ligands, WNT4 and WNT5a, were also able to act “canonically” but only in fusion with specific FZDs and with selective dependence on LRP5 or LRP6. These data and extension of this experimental setup to the poorly characterized other WNTs should facilitate deeper insight into the complex WNT/FZD signalling system and its function.     

WNT6基因在原发性骨肉瘤组织中的表达及其临床意义

目的:骨肉瘤是最常见的恶性骨肿瘤之一,好发于青少年,致残致死率高.因此,骨肉瘤的早期诊断、治疗及其发病原因和机制已成为现阶段骨肉瘤研究领域的主要方向之一.通过观察WNT6在骨肉瘤组织中的表达,探讨其在原发性骨肉瘤发生发展中的可能作用机制,为以WNT6为指标对原发性骨肉瘤的诊断和以WNT6为靶点进行原发性骨肉瘤生物学治疗提供理论依据.方法:收集70例原发性骨肉瘤、28例骨样骨瘤和25例骨软骨瘤标本的存档蜡块,应用SP免疫组织化学染色法检测组织中WNT6蛋白的表达情况,并应用统计学处理数据分析其与骨肉瘤临床病理参数及预后的关系.结果:WNT6在原发性骨肉瘤、骨样骨瘤和骨软骨瘤组织中的阳性表达率分别为90.00 ％(63/70)、14.29 ％(4/28)和12.00 ％(3/25).骨样骨瘤组织WNT6阳性表达率与骨软骨瘤组织相比差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05);原发性骨肉瘤组织WNT6阳性表达率明显高于骨样骨瘤组织和骨软骨瘤组织,差异均有统计学意义(均P＜0.05).WNT6在骨肉瘤组织中的表达与Enneking分期、肺转移和预后呈正相关关系.结论:WNT6在原发性骨肉瘤中的表达明显上调,WNT6表达与骨肉瘤的Enneking分期、年龄、肺转移等相关,同时WNT6高表达患者生存率降低,对骨肉瘤的诊断和预后评估具有重要价值,并在临床可能成为一个诊断原发性骨肉瘤的检测指标,为骨肉瘤的生物学治疗提供新的靶点.     

利用DNA免疫技术制备WNT16蛋白多克隆抗体

Wnt16属于非经典wnt信号途径上的一员,目前有大量的研究表明wnt16与胚胎的血液发育和骨骼发育相关。为了阐明wnt16在造血过程中的调控机制,利用RT-PCR(逆转录PCR)扩增斑马鱼wnt16基因的ORF(开放阅读框)序列全长,构建真核表达载体pCAGGS-P7/wnt16,测序正确后,用该表达载体免疫BALB/c雌鼠,进行DNA免疫,制备斑马鱼抗WNT16特异性多克隆抗体。结果表明:通过DNA免疫制备的斑马鱼抗WNT16抗血清能特异性识别WNT16蛋白。斑马鱼WNT16抗体成功制备为进一步的功能研究奠定了重要基础。     

Epigenetic disruption of the WNT/ß-catenin signaling pathway in human cancers

Aberrant activation of the WNT/ß-catenin signaling pathway is frequently involved in a broad spectrum of human malignancies. Alternative to genetic deletions and point mutations, epigenetic inactivation of negative WNT regulators, through DNA methylation of promoter CpG islands and/or histone modification, leads to the activation or amplification of aberrant WNT/ß-catenin signaling. In this review, we summarized the contribution of epigenetic dysregulation of WNT/ß-catenin signaling to tumorigenesis and highlighted the importance of epigenetic identification of negative regulators of this pathway as putative tumor suppressors. The reversal of these silenced regulators may be developed as potential cancer therapeutics.     

WNT5A signaling contributes to Aβ-induced neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity

Neurodegenration is a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. Here, we present evidence that reveals a crucial role of Wnt5a signaling in this process. We showed that Wnt5a and its receptor Frizzled-5 (Fz5) were up-regulated in the AD mouse brain, and that beta-amyloid peptide (Aβ), a major constituent of amyloid plaques, stimulated Wnt5a and Fz5 expression in primary cortical cultures; these observations indicate that Wnt5a signaling could be aberrantly activated during AD pathogenesis. In support of such a possibility, we observed that inhibition of Wnt5a signaling attenuated while activation of Wnt5a signaling enhanced Aβ-evoked neurotoxicity, suggesting a role of Wnt5a signaling in AD-related neurodegeneration. Furthermore, we also demonstrated that Aβ-induced neurotoxicity depends on inflammatory processes, and that activation of Wnt5a signaling elicited the expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α whereas inhibition of Wnt5a signaling attenuated the Aβ-induced expression of the cytokines in cortical cultures. Our findings collectively suggest that aberrantly up-regulated Wnt5a signaling is a crucial pathological step that contributes to AD-related neurodegeneration by regulating neuroinflammation.     

Aberrant Activation of the WNT/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway in Lupus Nephritis

Objective

The canonical WNT pathway has been implicated as playing important roles in the pathogenesis of a variety of kidney diseases. Recently, WNT pathway activity was reported to be elevated in the renal tissue of a lupus mouse model. This study aimed to evaluate the potential role of the WNT pathway in the pathogenesis of human lupus nephritis.

Methods

The expression of β-catenin was evaluated in renal biopsy specimens from lupus nephritis patients and control kidney tissues by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect RNA expression of β-catenin, Dkk-1 and Axin2. Plasma concentrations of Dkk-1 were measured by ELISA.

Results

Immunohistochemistry and western blotting revealed increased expression of β-catenin in the kidneys of patients with lupus nephritis compared with control kidney tissues (p<0.05), accompanied by an increase in mRNA expression of β-catenin (p<0.01) and axin2 (p<0.05).β-catenin was significantly greater in LN patients without renal interstitial fibrosis compared with those with renal interstitial fibrosis (p<0.01) at the mRNA expression level; the increase in β-catenin mRNA positively correlated with the creatinine clearance rate (Ccr) and negatively correlated with chronicity indices of renal tissue injury. Greater plasma Dkk-1 concentrations were found in LN patients compared with controls (p<0.05). Plasma Dkk-1 concentrations also correlated negatively with anti-dsDNA antibody levels and positively with serum C3 levels.

Conclusions

The canonical WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway was activated in lupus nephritis patients, accompanied by an increase in plasma levels of Dkk-1. Altered WNT/β-catenin signaling was related to the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis and might play a role in renal fibrosis.     

WNT/β-Catenin Signaling Regulates Multiple Steps of Myogenesis by Regulating Step-Specific Targets

Molecules involved in WNT/β-catenin signaling show specific spatiotemporal expression and play vital roles in myogenesis; however, it is still largely unknown how WNT/β-catenin signaling regulates each step of myogenesis. Here, we show that WNT/β-catenin signaling can control diverse biological processes of myogenesis by regulating step-specific molecules. In order to identify the temporally specific roles of WNT/β-catenin signaling molecules in muscle development and homeostasis, we used in vitro culture systems for both primary mouse myoblasts and C2C12 cells, which can differentiate into myofibers. We found that a blockade of WNT/β-catenin signaling in the proliferating cells decreases proliferation activity, but does not induce cell death, through the regulation of genes cyclin A2 (Ccna2) and cell division cycle 25C (Cdc25c). During muscle differentiation, the inhibition of WNT/β-catenin signaling blocks myoblast fusion through the inhibition of the Fermitin family homolog 2 (Fermt2) gene. Blocking WNT/β-catenin signaling in the well-differentiated myofibers results in the failure of maintenance of their structure by disruption of cadherin/β-catenin/actin complex formation, which plays a crucial role in connecting a myofiber''s cytoskeleton to the surrounding extracellular matrix. Thus, our results indicate that WNT/β-catenin signaling can regulate multiple steps of myogenesis, including cell proliferation, myoblast fusion, and homeostasis, by targeting step-specific molecules.     

靶向WNT5A基因的shRNA逆转录病毒表达载体的构建与鉴定

目的:构建人WNT5A shRNA逆转录病毒表达载体.方法:根据人WNT5A基因mRNA序列设计并合成两条互补的DNA单链寡核苷酸,将退火后形成的双链连接于pSUPER Retro RNAi质粒,构建WNT5A shRNA逆转录病毒表达载体,经脂质体介导入GPG293细胞,包装成逆转录病毒.用该逆转录病毒感染人鼻咽癌细胞,Western blot法和RT-PCR检测细胞WNT5A的表达.结果:目的序列成功连接于载体并包装成逆转录病毒,免疫印迹检测和RT-PCR检测结果表明构建的WNT5A shRNA逆转录病毒表达载体能显著抑制鼻咽癌细胞WNT5A的表达.结论:成功构建人WNT5A shRNA逆转录病毒表达载体.     

干扰WNT5B抑制胃癌细胞的集落形成、侵袭和迁移

目的 探索无翅型MMTV整合位点家族成员5B(wingless-type MMTV integration site family member 5B,WNT5B)对胃癌细胞的集落形成、侵袭和迁移的影响及其机制.方法 采用蛋白质免疫印迹法检测WNT5B在癌旁非肿瘤胃组织和胃肿瘤组织、人正常胃粘膜细胞(GES-1)以及胃...     

Pertussis toxin-sensitive heterotrimeric Gαi/o proteins mediate WNT/β-catenin and WNT/ERK1/2 signaling in mouse primary microglia stimulated with purified WNT-3A

WNT-3A is a secreted lipoglycoprotein that engages Class Frizzled receptors and LDL receptor related protein 5/6 (LRP5/6) for cellular communication. Generally, WNT-3A mediates WNT/β-catenin signaling to regulate TCF/LEF-dependent gene expression. We have previously shown that β-catenin levels are elevated in proinflammatory microglia of Alzheimer's disease patients and that WNT-3A can evoke a strong proinflammatory response in primary microglia. In order to investigate the underlying mechanisms, we focus here on the pharmacological dissection of WNT-3A-induced signaling to β-catenin and to the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) in mouse primary microglia. Both pathways are induced by WNT-3A with slightly different kinetics, suggesting that they might be pharmacologically separable. Inhibition of heterotrimeric G_αi/o proteins by pertussis toxin blocks WNT-3A-induced LRP6 phosphorylation, disheveled shift, β-catenin stabilization and phosphorylation of ERK1/2. On the other hand LRP6 blockade by Dickkopf 1 treatment abrogated the WNT/β-catenin pathway without affecting WNT/ERK1/2 signaling. In the opposite way, inhibition of βγ subunits, phospholipase C (PLC), intracellular calcium and MEK1/2, the upstream kinase of ERK1/2, blocked ERK1/2 phosphorylation but not β-catenin stabilization. In summary, the data suggest a central role of G_αi/o for both β-catenin-dependent and -independent pathways. WNT-3A-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation is mediated by βγ subunits, PLC, intracellular calcium and MEK1/2. Furthermore, we show that cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), a generic proinflammatory marker of microglia, is induced by WNT-3A through ERK1/2-dependent pathways arguing that β-catenin-independent signaling downstream of WNT-3A is of physiological importance for the proinflammatory regulation of microglia.     

日本青鳉2种WNT4基因的克隆及鉴定(英文)

Wingless-type MMTV integration site family,member 4(WNT4) is a critical signaling molecule,regulating cell-cell interactions,proliferation,differentiation,migration,and gene activation [1,2].It is a highly conserved gene with mammals and has multiple roles in organogenesis and homeeostasis,and it has special importance in the sexual differentiation of the ovary [3 - 6].     

WNT/β-Catenin Signalling and Epithelial Patterning in the Homoscleromorph Sponge Oscarella

Sponges branch basally in the metazoan phylogenetic tree and are thus well positioned to provide insights into the evolution of mechanisms controlling animal development, likely to remain active in adult sponges. Of the four sponge clades, the Homoscleromorpha are of particular interest as they alone show the “true” epithelial organization seen in other metazoan phyla (the Eumetazoa). We have examined the deployment in sponges of Wnt signalling pathway components, since this pathway is an important regulator of many developmental patterning processes. We identified a reduced repertoire of three divergent Wnt ligand genes in the recently-sequenced Amphimedon queenslandica (demosponge) genome and two Wnts from our EST collection from the homoscleromorph Oscarella lobularis, along with well-conserved genes for intracellular pathway components (β-catenin, GSK3β). Remarkably, the two O. lobularis Wnt genes showed complementary expression patterns in relation to the evenly spaced ostia (canal openings) of the exopinacoderm (ectoderm), highly reminiscent of Wnt expression during skin appendage formation in vertebrates. Furthermore, experimental activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway using GSK3β inhibitors provoked formation of ectopic ostia, as has been shown for epithelial appendages in Eumetazoa. We thus suggest that deployment of Wnt signalling is a common and perhaps ancient feature of metazoan epithelial patterning and morphogenesis.