Wntsignalizáció

Wntsignalizáció, often referred to as the Wnt pathway, is a complex and highly conserved signaling cascade crucial for various developmental and cellular processes in multicellular organisms. This pathway plays a significant role in embryonic development, regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, cell fate determination, and cell migration. Beyond development, Wnt signaling is also implicated in adult tissue homeostasis, stem cell maintenance, and repair mechanisms. Dysregulation of Wnt signaling is strongly linked to the development and progression of numerous diseases, most notably various types of cancer, where it can promote uncontrolled cell growth and tumor formation.

There are several distinct Wnt signaling pathways, with the canonical and non-canonical pathways being the most extensively studied. The canonical Wnt pathway, also known as the beta-catenin-dependent pathway, is initiated by the binding of a Wnt ligand to a Frizzled receptor and a co-receptor, typically a LRP (Lipoprotein receptor-related protein) co-receptor. This binding event triggers a cascade of intracellular events leading to the stabilization and accumulation of beta-catenin. Stabilized beta-catenin then translocates to the nucleus, where it interacts with TCF/LEF transcription factors to regulate the expression of target genes.

Non-canonical Wnt pathways, in contrast, do not involve beta-catenin accumulation and regulate processes such as planar cell polarity (PCP) and cell adhesion. These pathways are also initiated by Wnt ligand binding to Frizzled receptors but utilize different intracellular effectors, leading to diverse cellular outcomes. The intricate interplay between these pathways highlights the versatility and importance of Wnt signaling in maintaining cellular and organismal integrity.