Kumawat Kuldeep, Gosens Reinoud
Department of Molecular Pharmacology, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Cell Mol Life Sci. 2016 Feb;73(3):567-87. doi: 10.1007/s00018-015-2076-y. Epub 2015 Oct 29.
WNT-5A plays critical roles in a myriad of processes from embryonic morphogenesis to the maintenance of post-natal homeostasis. WNT-5A knock-out mice fail to survive and present extensive structural malformations. WNT-5A predominantly activates β-catenin-independent WNT signaling cascade but can also activate β-catenin signaling to relay its diverse cellular effects such as cell polarity, migration, proliferation, cell survival, and immunomodulation. Moreover, aberrant WNT-5A signaling is associated with several human pathologies such as cancer, fibrosis, and inflammation. Thus, owing to its diverse functions, WNT-5A is a crucial signaling molecule currently under intense investigation with efforts to not only delineate its signaling mechanisms and functions in physiological and pathological conditions, but also to develop strategies for its therapeutic targeting.
WNT-5A在从胚胎形态发生到出生后内环境稳态维持的众多过程中发挥着关键作用。WNT-5A基因敲除小鼠无法存活，并出现广泛的结构畸形。WNT-5A主要激活不依赖β-连环蛋白的WNT信号级联反应，但也能激活β-连环蛋白信号，以传递其多种细胞效应，如细胞极性、迁移、增殖、细胞存活和免疫调节。此外，WNT-5A信号异常与多种人类疾病相关，如癌症、纤维化和炎症。因此，由于其功能多样，WNT-5A是目前正在深入研究的关键信号分子，不仅致力于阐明其在生理和病理条件下的信号机制和功能，还努力开发针对其治疗靶点的策略。
