The effects of the traditional Chinese drug Jianpi Bushen Prescription (JBP) were investigated on expressions of Wnt3a and Cyclin D1 genes in radiation-damaged mice. The radiation damage model was induced in Kumming mice by single total body irradiation treatment for 9 days. Mice were divided into the radiation group, low-dose (100%) JBP group, high-dose (200%) JBP group, or batyl alcohol group...

Wnt proteins are secreted post-translationally modified proteins that signal locally to regulate development and proliferation. The production of bioactive Wnts requires a number of dedicated factors in the secreting cell whose coordinated functions are not fully understood. A screen for small molecules identified inhibitors of vacuolar acidification as potent inhibitors of Wnt secretion. Inhib...

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the most common indication for valve surgery in the USA. This study hypothesizes that CAVD develops secondary to Wnt3a/Lrp5 activation via oxidative-mechanical stress in eNOS null mice. eNOS(-/-) mice were tested with experimental diets including a control (n=20), cholesterol (n=20), cholesterol + Atorvastatin (n=20). After 23 weeks the mice were tested f...

background: this research studies the effects of activation and inhibition of wnt3a signaling pathway in buffalo (bubalus bubalis) embryonic stem (es) cell-like cells. materials and methods: to carry on this experimental study, the effects of activation and inhibition of wnt3a signaling in buffalo es cell-like cells were examined using bio (0.5 mm) combined with wnt3a (200 ng/ml), as an activat...

We investigated the role of canonical WNT signaling in mesoderm and hematopoietic development from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) using a recombinant human protein-based differentiation medium (APEL). In contrast to prior studies using less defined culture conditions, we found that WNT3A alone was a poor inducer of mesoderm. However, WNT3A synergized with BMP4 to accelerate mesoderm formati...

Wnt and Dickkopf (Dkk) regulate the stabilization of beta-catenin antagonistically in the Wnt signaling pathway; however, the molecular mechanism is not clear. In this study, we found that Wnt3a acts in parallel to induce the caveolin-dependent internalization of low-density-lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6), as well as the phosphorylation of LRP6 and the recruitment of Axin to LRP6...

During development, early inducing programs must later be counterbalanced for coordinated tissue maturation. In Xenopus laevis embryos, activation of the Meis3 transcription factor by a mesodermal Wnt3a signal lies at the core of the hindbrain developmental program. We now identify a hindbrain restricting circuit, surprisingly comprising the hindbrain inducers Wnt3a and Meis3, and Tsh1 protein....

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase protein localized to regions called focal adhesions, which are contact points between cells and the extracellular matrix. FAK protein acts as a scaffold to transfer adhesion-dependent and growth factor signals into the cell. Increased FAK expression is linked to aggressive metastatic and invasive tumors. However, little is known about...

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are known to undergo functional changes that contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and restenosis. Wnts are a family of secreted glycoproteins that bind to transmembrane Frizzled receptors and initiate signaling cascades with indispensable roles during cell migration, adhesion, proliferation, and survival. The present study reports that wingless-...

Wnts are glycan- and lipid-modified morphogens that are important for cellular responses, but how Wnts are secreted in polarized epithelial cells remains unclear. Although Wntless (Wls) has been shown to interact with Wnts and support their secretion, the role of Wls in the sorting of Wnts to the final destination in polarized epithelial cells have not been clarified. Glycosylation was shown to...