Previous studies have shown that Wnt3a enhances the proliferation and inhibits the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). In this study, we investigated the signaling pathways involved in Wnt3a-induced osteoblastic cell proliferation. Experiments with DKK1, a natural antagonist of Lrp5/6, indicated that Wnt/β-catenin did not play a major role in Wnt3a-induced osteob...

BACKGROUND Wnt3a regulates a canonical signaling pathway in early development that controls the nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin and its activation of Lef/Tcf-sensitive transcription of developmentally important genes. RESULTS Using totipotent mouse F9 teratocarcinoma cells expressing Frizzled-1 and biochemical analyses, we detail the influence of Wnt3a stimulation on the expression, comp...

The apical ectodermal ridge (AER) is an essential structure for vertebrate limb development. Wnt3a is expressed during the induction of the chick AER, and misexpression of Wnt3a induces ectopic expression of AER-specific genes in the limb ectoderm. The genes beta-catenin and Lef1 can mimic the effect of Wnt3a, and blocking the intrinsic Lef1 activity disrupts AER formation. Hence, Wnt3a functio...

The aim of this study was to investigate the transcriptional profile and role of WNT3A signalling in maintaining buffalo embryonic stem (ES) cells in a pluripotent state and in the induction of their differentiation. ES cells were derived from embryos produced by in vitro fertilisation (iESC), parthenogenesis (pESC) and hand-made cloning (cESC). The expression of WNT3A, its receptors and interm...

Wingless-type (Wnt) signaling proteins participate in various cell developmental processes. A suppressive role of Wnt5a on keratinocyte growth has already been observed. However, the role of other Wnt proteins in proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes remains unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of the Wnt ligand, Wnt3a, on proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes. K...

BACKGROUND Wnt proteins modulate development, stem cell fate and cancer through interactions with cell surface receptors. Wnts are cysteine-rich, glycosylated, lipid modified, two domain proteins that are prone to aggregation. The culprit responsible for this behavior is a covalently bound palmitoleoyl moiety in the N-terminal domain. RESULTS By combining murine Wnt3a with phospholipid and ap...

Initial axonal elongation is essential for neuronal polarization and requires polarized activation of IGF-1 receptors (IGF-1r) and the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3k) pathway. Wingless-type family growth factors (Wnts) have also been implied in the regulation of axonal development. It is not known, however, if Wnts have any participation in the regulation of initial axonal outgrowth and th...

The dynamic interaction between positive and negative signals is necessary for remodeling of postsynaptic structures at the neuromuscular junction. Here we report that Wnt3a negatively regulates acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clustering by repressing the expression of Rapsyn, an AChR-associated protein essential for AChR clustering. In cultured myotubes, treatment withWnt3a or overexpression of ...

Although Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been shown to be essential in the process of cancer formation, it is unclear how Wnt3a signaling pathway regulates abnormal proliferation and differentiation of breast cancer cells. Here, we found overexpression of Wnt3a stimulated the expression of the Wntsignaling’s downstream genes such as LRP6, Naked, Axin1, DVL-2, β-catenin, and TCF-1 in breast cancer c...

BACKGROUND Prior investigations have not identified a major locus for vertebral malformations, providing evidence that there is genetic heterogeneity for this condition. WNT3A has recently been identified as a negative regulator of Notch signaling and somitogenesis. Mice with mutations in Wnt3a develop caudal vertebral malformations. Because congenital vertebral malformations represent a sporad...