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Molecular Studies on Wnt Signaling

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026 | Viewed by 3003

Editor


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Guest Editor
Clinical Laboratory, Korányi National Institute of Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary
Interests: glucocorticoid excess; Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Wnt pathway has become one of the most studied signaling pathways, playing a prominent role in the proliferation, differentiation, and migration of cells. After its first description in 1980, it was quickly revealed that the pathway not only regulates the function of healthy cells but also plays a key role in the development and progression of cancers.

In recent years, numerous studies have examined the role of the Wnt pathway in both normal and pathological functions of various cell lines. From this extensive body of research, it is important to draw fundamental conclusions that can guide further investigations.

The recognition that this signaling pathway functions abnormally in cancer has made it almost inevitable to search for anticancer drugs among its inhibitors. Several molecules identified as Wnt inhibitors are currently under clinical investigation (e.g., LGK974, PRI-724, CGX1321), but no safe and effective new drug has yet been approved by the FDA. On the other side, drugs already approved for other indications (e.g., anthelmintics) have been found to exert their effects through modulation of the Wnt signaling pathway. Which approach will ultimately lead to an effective therapy for specific cancers remains uncertain; however, one point is clear: a huge body of knowledge needs to be systematized and translated into clinically applicable insights. This Special Issue represents a modest attempt in that direction.

Dr. Katalin Mészáros
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Wnt signaling pathway
  • inhibitor
  • cancer
  • treatment
  • drugs

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1334 KB  
Article
Non-Canonical Wnt11 Signaling Regulates Pulmonary Fibrosis via Fibroblast and Alveolar Epithelial Type II Cell Crosstalk
by Francina Gonzalez De Los Santos, Akira Ando, Biao Hu, Alyssa Rosek, Sem H. Phan and Tianju Liu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(1), 351; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27010351 - 29 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1066
Abstract
The reactivation of Wnt signaling pathways plays an important role in driving myofibroblast differentiation in fibrotic diseases; however, the mechanism is not clearly understood. In this study, we investigate the role of non-canonical Wnt11 signaling in human lung fibroblasts and its contributions to [...] Read more.
The reactivation of Wnt signaling pathways plays an important role in driving myofibroblast differentiation in fibrotic diseases; however, the mechanism is not clearly understood. In this study, we investigate the role of non-canonical Wnt11 signaling in human lung fibroblasts and its contributions to myofibroblast differentiation. Our results show that components of the non-canonical Wnt pathway are upregulated in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and that in vivo depletion of Wnt11 in mouse lung fibroblasts significantly reduces lung fibrosis. Furthermore, co-culture studies using fibroblasts and alveolar type II epithelial cells (AECII) revealed a Wnt11-mediated mechanism that promotes myofibroblast differentiation. Finally, we demonstrate that in human lung fibroblasts, TGFβ can increases Wnt11 transcription by regulating Smad3 binding to the Wnt11 promoter and by modulating Wnt11 promoter activity. Together, these findings identify non-canonical Wnt11 as a regulator of myofibroblast differentiation and lung fibrosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Studies on Wnt Signaling)
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Review

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39 pages, 7138 KB  
Review
Wnt Signaling Across Adult Skin Mini-Organs: Interfollicular Epidermis, Hair Follicle, and Nail—Implications for Disease and Regeneration
by Anna Pulawska-Czub, Ajay Jakhar, Konrad Łukaszyk and Krzysztof Kobielak
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(8), 3402; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27083402 - 10 Apr 2026
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1452
Abstract
Skin and its appendages form an integrated system of ectodermal mini-organs that rely on Wnt signaling for lifelong homeostasis and regeneration; yet, the pathway operates in a highly organ-specific manner in each compartment. In interfollicular epidermis, the Wnt activity is spatially graded, thus [...] Read more.
Skin and its appendages form an integrated system of ectodermal mini-organs that rely on Wnt signaling for lifelong homeostasis and regeneration; yet, the pathway operates in a highly organ-specific manner in each compartment. In interfollicular epidermis, the Wnt activity is spatially graded, thus maintaining the balance between basal progenitor proliferation and terminal differentiation. The hair follicle is governed by an intrinsic oscillator based on cross-regulation between Wnt and BMP signaling, providing a cell-autonomous layer of control over hair cycle dynamics. Finally, the nail organ is characterized by the spatial compartmentalization of Wnt activity, with a distal matrix activation zone supported by specialized mesenchymal niche cells that sustain continuous nail plate growth and coordinate the digit tip regeneration. Understanding these divergent regulatory architectures provides a conceptual framework for targeted regenerative strategies aimed at enhancing repair in skin and its appendages. Therefore, in this review, we synthesize recent molecular studies on Wnt signaling in the adult skin, hair follicles, and nail mini-organs, highlighting appendage-specific features that underlie their distinct regenerative capacities. We further discuss how dysregulated Wnt signaling contributes to skin, hair, and nail pathologies such as alopecia, chronic wounds, excessive scarring, skin cancer, and nail deformations, and summarize the emerging strategies that target Wnt pathway to therapeutically enhance hair regrowth, wound repair, cancer treatment, and digit tip regeneration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Studies on Wnt Signaling)
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