Therapeutic potential of rWnt5A in curbing Leishmania donovani infection

In view of the antagonism of Wnt5A signaling toward microbial pathogens, we were interested in evaluating the therapeutic potential of recombinant Wnt5A (rWnt5A) in curbing Leishmania donovani infection. Initially, using L. donovani-infected RAW 264.7 and peritoneal macrophages, we demonstrated that application of rWnt5A as opposed to the vehicle control to the infected cells significantly dampens L. donovani infection. Inhibition of infection was associated with increase in cell-associated reactive oxygen species (ROS), and blocked by the ROS production inhibitor diphenylene iodonium chloride (DPI). rWnt5A, but not the vehicle control (PBS: phosphate-buffered saline) administration to L. donovani-infected mice appreciably reduced the infection load, and inhibited disease progression as evident from the preservation of splenic white pulp architecture. rWnt5A administration, moreover, led to elevation of both cell-associated ROS and the activation of splenic T cells. Substantial increase in T cell-associated Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and Granzyme B (GRB) upon exposure of splenic lymphocytes harvested from rWnt5A-treated mice to L. donovani-infected RAW 264.7 macrophages in vitro validated the occurrence of L. donovani-responsive T cell activation in vivo. In summary, this study unveils the therapeutic potential of rWnt5A in curbing L. donovani infection and the progression of experimental visceral leishmaniasis possibly through increase in cellular ROS and T cell activation. Accordingly, it opens up a new avenue of investigation into the use of rWnt5A as a therapeutic agent for restraining the progression of drug-resistant L. donovani infection.

Wnt5A Signaling Regulates Gut Bacterial Survival and T Cell Homeostasis

In light of the demonstrated antagonism of Wnt5A signaling toward the growth of several bacterial pathogens, it was important to study the influence of Wnt5A on gut-resident bacteria and its outcome. Here, we demonstrate that in contrast to inhibiting the survival of the established gut pathogen Salmonella enterica, Wnt5A clearly promotes the survival of the common gut commensals Enterococcus faecalis and Lactobacillus rhamnosus within macrophages through a self-perpetuating Wnt5A-actin axis. A Wnt5A-actin axis furthermore regulates the subsistence of the natural bacterial population of the Peyer's patches, as is evident from the diminution in the countable bacterial CFU therein through the application of Wnt5A signaling and actin assembly inhibitors. Wnt5A dependency of the gut-resident bacterial population is also manifested in the notable difference between the bacterial diversities associated with the feces and Peyer's patches of Wnt5A heterozygous mice, which lack a functional copy of the Wnt5A gene, and their wild-type counterparts. Alterations in the gut commensal bacterial population resulting from either the lack of a copy of the Wnt5A gene or inhibitor-mediated attenuation of Wnt5A signaling are linked with significant differences in cell surface major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II levels and regulatory versus activated CD4 T cells associated with the Peyer's patches. Taken together, our findings reveal the significance of steady state Wnt5A signaling in shaping the gut commensal bacterial population and the T cell repertoire linked to it, thus unveiling a crucial control device for the maintenance of gut bacterial diversity and T cell homeostasis. IMPORTANCE Gut commensal bacterial diversity and T cell homeostasis are crucial entities of the host innate immune network, yet the molecular details of host-directed signaling pathways that sustain the steady state of gut bacterial colonization and T cell activation remain unclear. Here, we describe the protective role of a Wnt5A-actin axis in the survival of several gut bacterial commensals and its necessity in shaping gut bacterial colonization and the associated T cell repertoire. This study opens up new avenues of investigation into the role of the Wnt5A-actin axis in protection of the gut from dysbiosis-related inflammatory disorders.

Correlation of plasma and urine Wnt5A with the disease activity and cutaneous lesion severity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Reliable noninvasive biomarkers are needed to accurately assess disease activity and prognosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical relevance of Wnt5A with disease activity and severity with cutaneous involvement in particular in SLE patients; its concentrations in plasma and urine were examined and analyzed. In the cross-sectional study, the clinical relevance of Wnt5A protein was evaluated in both plasma and urine of SLE patients and healthy cohorts using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Significantly, more abundances of Wnt5A protein were determined in both of plasmas and urines of SLE patients compared to healthy cohorts (p < 0.0001), which were even higher in active disease (AD) SLE patients relative to low disease activity (LDA) SLE patients (p < 0.0001). Meanwhile, the ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the plasma and urine Wnt5A were potential candidate biomarkers for identifying the disease activity and severity in SLE patients. The discriminant function analysis further revealed that the plasma and urine Wnt5A were separated and distinct for AD SLE patients and healthy controls. In consistence, the disease severity was correlated with the plasma and urine Wnt5A as ascertained by CLASI activity score and the prevalence of serositis in SLE patients. These results suggest that Wnt5A, as a summary measure for different inflammatory processes, could be a potential biomarker for accessing the disease activity, and a noninvasive biomarker for evaluating the disease severity in terms of cutaneous involvement in SLE patients.

A review of BMP and Wnt signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a chronic disease characterized by a progressive elevation in mean pulmonary arterial pressure. This occurs due to abnormal remodeling of small peripheral lung vasculature resulting in progressive occlusion of the artery lumen that eventually causes right heart failure and death. Current therapeutic options for PAH are limited and focused mainly on reversal of pulmonary vasoconstriction and proliferation of vascular cells. Although these treatments can relieve disease symptoms, PAH remains a progressive lethal disease.Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and their receptors were required for PAH-induced right ventricular hypertrophy. Emerging data suggest that restoration of BMP type II receptor (BMPR2) signaling in PAH is a promising alternative that could prevent and reverse pulmonary vascular remodeling. BMPR2 mutations have been identified in >70% of familial and roughly 15% of sporadic PAH cases. Wingless (Wnt) are a family of secreted glycoproteins with varying expression patterns and a range of functions, Wnt signaling pathway is divided into canonical signaling pathway and non-canonical signaling pathway. A recent study reports that interaction between BMP and Wnt closely associated with lung development, those cascade coordination regulation stem cell fate which determine lung branching morphogenes. The promoting effect of BMPR2 on proliferation, survival, and motility of endothelial cells was through recruiting Wnts signaling pathway, the interaction between BMP and Wnt closely associated with lung development.Therefore, in this review, we outline the latest advances of BMP and Wnt signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of PAH and disease progression.

The potential role of hsa_circ_0001079 in androgenetic alopecia via sponging hsa-miR-136-5p

Background

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is an androgen‐dependent polygenic hereditary disease.

Methods

Diseased hair follicles from 5 AGA patients and normal hair follicles from 5 healthy individuals were selected as specimens to carry out whole transcriptome sequencing. Multiple high‐expression circular RNAs (circRNAs) were screened from the diseased group. We further verified the presence of the circRNAs in the clinical specimens by real‐time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT‐PCR).

Results

In total, 100 circRNAs were significantly upregulated, and 184 circRNAs were significantly downregulated. The top 10 upregulated circRNAs were hsa_circ_0101041, hsa_circ_0001578, hsa_circ_0135062, hsa_circ_0002980, hsa_circ_0005062, hsa_circ_0072688, hsa_circ_0133954, hsa_circ_0001079, hsa_circ_0005974, hsa_circ_0000489. The top 10 downregulated circRNAs were hsa_circ_0001278, hsa_circ_0031482, hsa_circ_0008285, hsa_circ_0003784, hsa_circ_0077096, hsa_circ_0001148, hsa_circ_0006886, hsa_circ_0000638, hsa_circ_0084521, and hsa_circ_0101074. Among top 10 upregulated circRNAs, hsa_circ_0001079 showed significantly high expression via large‐sample verification and clinical application potential. Based on a database comparison and base pairing analysis, we found that has‐miR‐136‐5p bound to hsa_circ_0001079 and that hsa‐miR‐136‐5p had potential binding sites with Wnt5A.

Conclusion

In summary, through high‐throughput sequencing and bioinformatic analysis, a potential diagnostic marker for alopecia and a key circRNA that might adsorb microRNA (miRNA) through a sponging mechanism, thus mediating alopecia, were discovered in this study.

Wnt and β-Catenin Signaling in the Bone Metastasis of Prostate Cancer

Wnt family proteins and β-catenin are critical for the regulation of many developmental and oncogenic processes. Wnts are secreted protein ligands which signal using a canonical pathway, and involve the transcriptional co-activator β-catenin or non-canonical pathways that are independent of β-catenin. Bone metastasis is unfortunately a common occurrence in prostate cancer and can be conceptualized as a series of related steps or processes, most of which are regulated by Wnt ligands and/or β-catenin. At the primary tumor site, cancer cells often take on mesenchymal properties, termed epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), which are regulated in part by the Wnt receptor FZD4. Then, Wnt signaling, especially Wnt5A, is of importance as the cells circulate in the blood stream. Upon arriving in the bones, cancer cells migrate and take on stem-like or tumorigenic properties, as aided through Wnt or β-catenin signaling involving CHD11, CD24, and Wnt5A. Additionally, cancer cells can become dormant and evade therapy, in part due to regulation by Wnt5A. In the bones, E-selectin can aid in the reversal of EMT, a process termed mesenchymal epithelial transition (MET), as a part of metastatic tumorigenesis. Once bone tumors are established, Wnt/β-catenin signaling is involved in the suppression of osteoblast function largely through DKK1.

Transcriptional Regulation of Drug Metabolizing CYP Enzymes by Proinflammatory Wnt5A Signaling in Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells

Downregulation of drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters by proinflammatory mediators in hepatocytes, enterocytes and renal tubular epithelium is an established mechanism affecting pharmacokinetics. Emerging evidences indicate that vascular endothelial cell expression of drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters may regulate pharmacokinetic pathways in heart to modulate local drug bioavailability and toxicity. However, whether inflammation regulates pharmacokinetic pathways in human cardiac vascular endothelial cells remains largely unknown. The lipid modified protein Wnt5A is emerging as a critical mediator of proinflammatory responses and disease severity in sepsis, hypertension and COVID-19. In the present study, we employed transcriptome profiling and gene ontology analyses to investigate the regulation of expression of drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters by Wnt5A in human coronary artery endothelial cells. Our study shows for the first time that Wnt5A induces the gene expression of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 enzymes involved in phase I metabolism of a broad spectrum of drugs including chloroquine (the controversial drug for COVID-19) that is known to cause toxicity in myocardium. Further, the upregulation of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 expression is preserved even during inflammatory crosstalk between Wnt5A and the prototypic proinflammatory IL-1β in human coronary artery endothelial cells. These findings stimulate further studies to test the critical roles of vascular endothelial cell CYP1A1 and CYP1B1, and the potential of vascular-targeted therapy with CYP1A1/CYP1B1 inhibitors in modulating myocardial pharmacokinetics in Wnt5A-associated inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases.

miR-493 by regulating of c-Jun targets Wnt5a/PD-L1-inducing esophageal cancer cell development

BACKGROUND

Esophageal cancer is one of the most common cancers across the globe; the 5-year survival of esophageal cancer patients is still low. MicroRNA (miRNA) dysregulation has been implicated in cancer development, and the miRNAs play a pivotal role in esophageal cancer pathogenesis. It is urgently needed to find out how miRNA dysregulation was involved in esophageal cancer (EC) development.

METHODS

Through experiments in vivo and in vitro, we explored potential signaling pathways, miR-493/Wnt5A/c-JUN loop, in EC. Their mechanistic roles in EC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were investigated through multiple validation steps in EC9706 and TE13 cell lines and EC specimens.

RESULTS

Overexpression of miR-493 attenuates esophageal cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, miR-493 downregulation is an unfavorable factor in EC and negatively correlated with Wnt5A. The existence of miR-493 is also an important attribute of metabolism. Based on mechanism analyses, we show that miR-493 inhibits the activity of c-JUN and p-PI3K/p-AKT with enhanced p21 and directly regulates Wnt5A expression and function, whereas c-JUN binds the promoter region of miR-493 and suppressed the expression of miR-493, forming a negative feedback loop.

CONCLUSIONS

The miR-493/Wnt5A/c-JUN loop is a molecular feedback loop that refers to the development of esophageal cancer cells and a potential target for the treatment of esophageal cancer.

Wnt5A-Mediated Actin Organization Regulates Host Response to Bacterial Pathogens and Non-Pathogens

Wnt5A signaling facilitates the killing of several bacterial pathogens, but not the non-pathogen E. coli DH5α. The basis of such pathogen vs. non-pathogen distinction is unclear. Accordingly, we analyzed the influence of Wnt5A signaling on pathogenic E. coli K1 in relation to non-pathogenic E. coli K12-MG1655 and E. coli DH5α eliminating interspecies variability from our study. Whereas cell internalized E. coli K1 disrupted cytoskeletal actin organization and multiplied during Wnt5A depletion, rWnt5A mediated activation revived cytoskeletal actin assembly facilitating K1 eradication. Cell internalized E. coli K12-MG1655 and E. coli DH5α, which did not perturb actin assembly appreciably, remained unaffected by rWnt5A treatment. Phagosomes prepared separately from Wnt5A conditioned medium treated K1 and K12-MG1655 infected macrophages revealed differences in the relative levels of actin and actin network promoting proteins, upholding that the Wnt5A-Actin axis operates differently for internalized pathogen and non-pathogen. Interestingly, exposure of rWnt5A treated K1 and K12-MG1655/DH5α infected macrophages to actin assembly inhibitors reversed the scenario, blocking killing of K1, yet promoting killing of both K12-MG1655 and DH5α. Taken together, our study illustrates that the state of activation of the Wnt5A/Actin axis in the context of the incumbent bacteria is crucial for directing host response to infection.

Integrative analysis provides multi-omics evidence for the pathogenesis of placenta percreta

Pernicious placenta previa with placenta percreta (PP) is a catastrophic condition during pregnancy. However, the underlying pathogenesis remains unclear. In the present study, the placental tissues of normal cases and PP tissues of pernicious placenta previa cases were collected to determine the expression profile of protein‐coding genes, miRNAs, and lncRNAs through sequencing. Weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (WGCNA), accompanied by miRNA target prediction and correlation analysis, were employed to select potential hub protein‐coding genes and lncRNAs. The expression levels of selected protein‐coding genes, Wnt5A and MAPK13, were determined by quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical staining, and lncRNA PTCHD1‐AS and PAPPA‐AS1 expression levels were determined by quantitative PCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization. The results indicated that 790 protein‐coding genes, 382 miRNAs, and 541 lncRNAs were dysregulated in PP tissues, compared with normal tissues. WGCNA identified coding genes in the module (ME) black and ME turquoise modules that may be involved in the pathogenesis of PP. The selected potential hub protein‐coding genes, Wnt5A and MAPK13, were down‐regulated in PP tissues, and their expression levels were positively correlated with the expression levels of PTCHD1‐AS and PAPPA‐AS1. Further analysis demonstrated that PTCHD1‐AS and PAPPA‐AS1 regulated Wnt5A and MAPK13 expression by interacting with specific miRNAs. Collectively, our results provided multi‐omics data to better understand the pathogenesis of PP and help identify predictive biomarkers and therapeutic targets for PP.

Paradoxical Role for Wild-Type p53 in Driving Therapy Resistance in Melanoma

Metastatic melanoma is an aggressive disease, despite recent improvements in therapy. Eradicating all melanoma cells even in drug-sensitive tumors is unsuccessful in patients because a subset of cells can transition to a slow-cycling state, rendering them resistant to most targeted therapy. It is still unclear what pathways define these subpopulations and promote this resistant phenotype. In the current study, we show that Wnt5A, a non-canonical Wnt ligand that drives a metastatic, therapy-resistant phenotype, stabilizes the half-life of p53 and uses p53 to initiate a slow-cycling state following stress (DNA damage, targeted therapy, and aging). Inhibiting p53 blocks the slow-cycling phenotype and sensitizes melanoma cells to BRAF/MEK inhibition. In vivo, this can be accomplished with a single dose of p53 inhibitor at the commencement of BRAF/MEK inhibitor therapy. These data suggest that taking the paradoxical approach of inhibiting rather than activating wild-type p53 may sensitize previously resistant metastatic melanoma cells to therapy.

Wnt5A Signaling Promotes Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens by Activating a Host Autophagy Circuit

Bacterial pathogens are associated with severe infections (e.g., sepsis) and exacerbation of debilitating conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The interactions of bacterial pathogens with macrophages, a key component of innate immunity and host defense, are not clearly understood and continue to be intensively studied. Having previously demonstrated a role of Wnt5A signaling in phagocytosis, we proceeded to decipher the connection of Wnt5A signaling with infection by pathogenic bacteria, namely Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP), which are related with the progression of COPD and sepsis. We found that during the initial hours of infection with PA and SP, there is decrease in the steady state levels of the Wnt5A protein in macrophages. Suppression of Wnt5A signaling, moreover, impairs macrophage clearance of the bacterial infection both in vitro and in vivo. Activation of Wnt5A signaling, on the other hand, enhances clearance of the infection. Macrophage-mediated containment of bacterial infection in our study is dependant on Wnt5A-induced Rac1/Disheveled activation and cytochalasin D inhibitable actin assembly, which is associated with ULK1 kinase activity and LC3BII accumulation. Our experimental findings are consistent with Wnt5A signaling-dependent induction of autophagic killing (xenophagy) of PA and SP, as further substantiated by transmission electron microscopy. Overall, our study unveils the prevalence of a Wnt5A-Rac1-Disheveled-mediated actin-associated autophagy circuit as an important component of innate immunity in host macrophages that may turn out crucial for restricting infection by leading bacterial pathogens.

Inflammatory Wnt5A signalling pathways affecting barrier function of human vascular endothelial cells

Wnt5A is a chemokine secreted by inflammatory-activated human macrophages that sustains their inflammatory response in an autocrine manner. High levels of Wnt5A are found in sera of patients with sepsis and septic shock. Here, we comment on recently reported Wnt5A signalling pathways in human vascular endothelial cells (VEC). In human VEC, Wnt5A regulates cytoskeleton remodelling and barrier function through Ryk receptor and Rho-associated protein serine/threonine kinase, targeting LIMK2 and CFL1 involved in actin polymerisation. Wnt5A/Ryk signalling in VEC can be antagonised by the naturally occurring Wnt inhibitory factor (WIF)-1 (WIF1). Therapeutic targeting of this mechanism may reduce vascular leakage and edema in severe systemic inflammation and therefore should be subject of further investigations.

WIF1 prevents Wnt5A mediated LIMK/CFL phosphorylation and adherens junction disruption in human vascular endothelial cells

Background

Wnt5A is released by activated macrophages and elevated levels have been detected in sepsis patients with severe systemic inflammation. However, the signalling and functional effects of Wnt5A in the vascular endothelial cells (VEC) remained unclear. Recently, we showed that Wnt5A affects barrier function in human VEC through Ryk interaction. Wnt5A/Ryk signalling activates LIMK to inactivate the actin depolymerisation factor CFL by phosphorylation, promotes actin polymerisation and disrupts endothelial adherens junctions.

Findings

Here, we investigate the antagonistic effect of the Ryk specific secreted Wnt antagonist Wnt inhibitory factor (WIF)-1 on Wnt5A-mediated activation/inactivation of LIMK/CFL, and adherens junction disruption in human VEC. In human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC), treatment with Wnt5A enhanced the phosphorylation of LIMK and CFL that was significantly prevented by WIF1. The presence of WIF1 suppressed Wnt5A-mediated disruption of β-catenin and VE-cadherin adherens junctions in HCAEC, thereby preventing barrier dysfunction caused by Wnt5A.

Conclusion

We conclude that WIF1 or molecules with similar properties could be potent tools for the prevention of vascular leakage due to Wnt5A-mediated actin cytoskeleton remodeling in diseases associated with systemic inflammation.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12950-017-0157-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

WNT5A-ROR2 is induced by inflammatory mediators and is involved in the migration of human ovarian cancer cell line SKOV-3

Background

Wnt5A, which is a member of the non-transforming Wnt protein family, is implicated in inflammatory processes. It is also highly expressed by ovarian cancer cells. ROR2, which is a member of the Ror-family of receptor tyrosine kinases, acts as a receptor or co-receptor for Wnt5A. The Wnt5A–ROR2 signaling pathway plays essential roles in the migration and invasion of several types of tumor cell and influences their cell polarity. We investigated the modulation of Wnt5A–ROR2 by inflammatory mediators and its involvement in the migration of the human ovarian cancer cell line SKOV-3.

Methods

SKOV-3 cells were treated with LPS (lipopolysaccharide), LTA (lipoteichoic acid) and recombinant human IL-6 alone or in combination with STAT3 inhibitor (S1155S31-201) or NF-kB inhibitor (BAY11-7082) for 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 h. The Wnt5A and ROR2 expression levels were determined at the gene and protein levels. Cells were transfected with specific siRNA against Wnt5A in the absence or presence of human anti-ROR2 antibody and cell migration was assessed using transwells.

Results

There was a strong downregulation of Wnt5A expression in the presence of STAT3 or NF-kB inhibitors. Cell stimulation with LTA or IL-6 for 8 h led to significantly increased levels of Wnt5A (5- and 3-fold higher, respectively). LPS, LTA or IL-6 treatment significantly increased ROR2 expression (2-fold after 48 h). LPS- or LTA-induced Wnt5A or ROR2 expression was abrogated in the presence of STAT3 inhibitor (p < 0.001). IL-6-induced Wnt5A expression was abrogated by both STAT3 and NF-kB inhibitors (p < 0.001). Although not significant, IL-6-induced ROR2 expression showed a modest decrease when STAT3 inhibitor was used. Moreover, cell migration was decreased by 80 % in siRNA Wnt5A-transfected cells in the presence of anti-human ROR2 antibody (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

This study revealed for the first time that inflammatory mediators modulate Wnt5A and ROR2 through NF-kB and STAT3 transcription factors and this may play a role in ovarian cancer cell migration. The results described here provide new insight into the role of the Wnt5A–ROR2 complex in ovarian cancer progression in relation to inflammation.

Wnt5A/Ryk signaling critically affects barrier function in human vascular endothelial cells

Satisfactory therapeutic strategies for septic shock are still missing. Previously we found elevated levels of Wnt5A in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. Wnt5A is released by activated macrophages but knowledge of its effects in the vascular system remains scant. Here we investigate the response of human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) to Wnt5A. We used a genome-wide differential expression approach to define novel targets regulated by Wnt5A. Gene ontology analysis of expression profiles revealed clusters of genes involved in actin cytoskeleton remodeling as the predominant targets of Wnt5A. Wnt5A targeted Rho-associated protein serine/threonine kinase (ROCK), leading to phosphorylation of LIM kinase-2 (LIMK2) and inactivation of the actin depolymerization factor cofilin-1 (CFL1). Functional experiments recording cytoskeletal rearrangements in living cells showed that Wnt5A enhanced stress fiber formation as a consequence of reduced actin depolymerization. The antagonist Wnt inhibitory factor 1 (WIF1) that specifically interferes with the WIF domain of Ryk receptors prevented actin polymerization. Wnt5A disrupted β-catenin and VE-cadherin adherens junctions forming inter-endothelial gaps. Functional experiments targeting the endothelial monolayer integrity and live recording of trans-endothelial resistance revealed enhanced permeability of Wnt5A-treated HCAEC. Ryk silencing completely prevented Wnt5A-induced endothelial hyperpermeability. Wnt5A decreased wound healing capacity of HCAEC monolayers; this was restored by the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632. Here we show that Wnt5A acts on the vascular endothelium causing enhanced permeability through Ryk interaction and downstream ROCK/LIMK2/CFL1 signaling. Wnt5A/Ryk signaling might provide novel therapeutic strategies to prevent capillary leakage in systemic inflammation and septic shock.

Expression of WNT5A in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Its Control by TGF-β and WNT7B in Human Lung Fibroblasts

The wingless (Wnt) family of signaling ligands contributes significantly to lung development and is highly expressed in patients with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). We sought to define the cellular distribution of Wnt5A in the lung tissue of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and the signaling ligands that control its expression in human lung fibroblasts and IPF myofibroblasts. Tissue sections from 40 patients diagnosed with IPF or UIP were probed for the immunolocalization of Wnt5A. Further, isolated lung fibroblasts from normal or IPF human lungs, adenovirally transduced for the overexpression or silencing of Wnt7B or treated with TGF-β1 or its inhibitor, were analyzed for Wnt5A protein expression. Wnt5A was expressed in IPF lungs by airway and alveolar epithelium, smooth muscle cells, endothelium, and myofibroblasts of fibroblastic foci and throughout the interstitium. Forced overexpression of Wnt7B with or without TGF-β1 treatment significantly increased Wnt5A protein expression in normal human smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts but not in IPF myofibroblasts where Wnt5A was already highly expressed. The results demonstrate a wide distribution of Wnt5A expression in cells of the IPF lung and reveal that it is significantly increased by Wnt7B and TGF-β1, which, in combination, could represent key signaling pathways that modulate the pathogenesis of IPF.

Alkyloxy carbonyl modified hexapeptides as a high affinity compounds for Wnt5A protein in the treatment of psoriasis

Psoriasis is one of the most prevalent chronic inflammatory diseases of the skin. The Wnt pathways have been documented to play essential role in stem cell self-renewal and keratinocyte differentiation in the skin. Antagonizing the Wnt5a protein would emerge as a novel therapeutics in psoriasis treatment. In this view, we have developed and characterized series of compounds by attaching varied tertiary alkyloxy carbonyl groups at the N-terminal end of the hexapeptide (Met-Asp-Gly-Cys-Glu-Leu) bestowed to inhibit Wnt/Ca2+ signaling in psoriasis. Hexapeptide compound with 1,1-diphenylethoxy carbonyl group attached to N-terminal end of hexapeptide demonstrated highest binding affinity amongst all the evaluated compounds. The compound identified in the study can be subjected further for in vitro and in vivo studies for ADMET properties.

Wnt5A promotes an adaptive, senescent-like stress response, while continuing to drive invasion in melanoma cells

We have previously shown that Wnt5A drives invasion in melanoma. We have also shown that Wnt5A promotes resistance to therapy designed to target the BRAF(V600E) mutation in melanoma. Here, we show that melanomas characterized by high levels of Wnt5A respond to therapeutic stress by increasing p21 and expressing classical markers of senescence, including positivity for senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal), senescence-associated heterochromatic foci (SAHF), H3K9Me chromatin marks, and PML bodies. We find that despite this, these cells retain their ability to migrate and invade. Further, despite the expression of classic markers of senescence such as SA-β-gal and SAHF, these Wnt5A-high cells are able to colonize the lungs in in vivo tail vein colony-forming assays. This clearly underscores the fact that these markers do not indicate true senescence in these cells, but instead an adaptive stress response that allows the cells to evade therapy and invade. Notably, silencing Wnt5A reduces expression of these markers and decreases invasiveness. The combined data point to Wnt5A as a master regulator of an adaptive stress response in melanoma, which may contribute to therapy resistance.

Wnt5A expression is associated with the tumor metastasis and clinical survival in cervical cancer

AIMS

To identify the clinical significance of Wnt5A expression in the development and progression of cervical cancer.

METHODS

Real-time PCR was performed in 8 pairs of surgically resected cervical cancer and adjacent normal cervical tissues. Immunohistochemistry was performed to examine Wnt5A expression in 94 paraffin-embedded cervical cancer samples. Associations of Wnt5A expression with clinicopathological factors and clinical survival were analyzed.

RESULTS

Wnt5A expression was overexpressed in cervical cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal cervix. Wnt5A expression tended to be positively correlated with lymph nodes metastasis (P = 0.028) and recurrence (P = 0.009). Moreover, patients with higher Wnt5A expression in cancer tissues had better overall (P = 0.004) and recurrent-free survival (P = 0.012) than those with lower Wnt5A expression. Multivariate analysis revealed that Wnt5A was an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.026) for predicting overall survival of cervical cancer patients.

CONCLUSION

Upregulation of Wnt5A was associated with metastasis and progression of cervical cancer. The results of our study unravel the significance of Wnt/Ca2+ signaling in cervical cancer.