Wnt6 marks sites of epithelial transformations in the chick embryo

Abstract

In a screen for Wnt genes executing the patterning function of the vertebrate surface ectoderm, we have isolated a novel chick Wnt gene, chick Wnt6. This gene encodes the first pan-epidermal Wnt signalling molecule. Further sites of expression are the boundary of the early neural plate and surface ectoderm, the roof of mesencephalon, pretectum and dorsal thalamus, the differentiating heart, and the otic vesicle. The precise sites of Wnt6 expression coincide with crucial changes in tissue architecture, namely epithelial remodelling and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT). Moreover, the expression of Wnt6 is closely associated with areas of Bmp signalling.

Frizzled-7 dictates three-dimensional organization of colorectal cancer cell carcinoids

“…Neural crest cell induction, as opposed to neural crest migration, appears to be via Wnt6/FZD7-mediated canonical signalling in birds (Garcia-Castro et al, 2002;BurstynCohen et al, 2004). Wnt6/FZD7 canonical signalling has also been linked to epithelialization events such as the epithelial organization of somites (Schubert et al, 2002;Schmidt et al, 2004;Linker et al, 2005). These studies are consistent with the demonstration that canonical Wnt/FZD signalling orchestrates frank MET events such as organogenesis of the mammalian urogenital system (Carroll et al, 2005).…”

Sonic hedgehog and retinoic acid synergistically promote sensory fate specification from bone marrow-derived pluripotent stem cells

“…Consistent with this, DKK1, a canonical Wnt signaling inhibitor, was able to suppress the hindbrain͞somite͞otocyst conditioned medium-induced upregulation of Brn3a (T.K., unpublished observations). Moreover, Brn3a protein was induced in MSCs that had been cultured with embryonic inner ear sensory epithelium that synthesizes Wnt4, -6, and -7A (27)(28)(29). Interestingly, the up-regulation of Brn3a in MSCs was accompanied by up-regulation of neurogenin1 and neuroD but not of GATA3 or Sox10, both of which are up-regulated by Shh and RA.…”

Cloning and expression analysis of Wnt6 and Hox6 during intestinal regeneration in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus

“…García-Arrarás et al demonstrated that the epithelial-mesenchymal transition provided the initial source of cells for the formation of the intestine blastema in sea cucumber H. glaberrima (García-Arrarás et al, 2011). Furthermore, Schubert et al observed that the precise sites of Wnt6 expression coincided with the epithelial-mesenchymal transformation in the chick embryo (Schubert et al, 2002). Above all, Wnt6 responded to intestinal regeneration in A. japonicus, and it plays an important role in intestinal regeneration in A. japonicus.…”

“…Currently, the studies on Wnt6 demonstrated that it plays the role of promoting development and regeneration (Schubert et al, 2002;Geetha-Loganathan et al, 2006). Wnt6 encodes the 1st pan-epidermal Wnt signaling molecule and promotes epithelial remodeling, myogenesis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation; besides, it activates endodermal genes in the endomesoderm gene regulatory network (Schubert et al, 2002;GeethaLoganathan et al, 2005GeethaLoganathan et al, , 2006Croce et al, 2011).…”