Wnt Signaling in Angiogenesis

Authors: Parmalee, Nancy L.; Kitajewski, Jan

Source: Current Drug Targets, Volume 9, Number 7, July 2008 , pp. 558-564(7)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

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Abstract:

Although progress has been made in understanding the role of growth factors and their receptors in angiogenesis, little is known about how the Wnt family of growth factors function in the vasculature. Wnts are multifunctional factors that act through the frizzled receptors to regulate proliferation, apoptosis, branching morphogenesis, inductive processes, and cell polarity. All of these processes must occur as developing vascular structures are formed and maintained. Recent evidence has linked the Wnt/Frizzled signaling pathway to proper vascular growth in murine and human retina. Here we review the literature describing the angiogenic functions for Wnt signaling and focus on a newly discovered angiogenic factor, Norrin, which acts through the Wnt receptor, Frizzled4.

Keywords: Wnt; frizzled; norrin; vessel; angiogenesis; retinopathy

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138945008784911822

Publication date: 2008-07-01

More about this publication?

Current Drug Targets aims to cover the latest and most outstanding developments on the medicinal chemistry and pharmacology of molecular drug targets e.g. disease specific proteins, receptors, enzymes, genes. Each issue of the journal will be devoted to a single timely topic, with series of in-depth reviews, written by leaders in the field, covering a range of current topics on drug targets. These issues will be organized and led by a guest editor who is a recognized expert in the overall topic. As the discovery, identification, characterisation and validation of novel human drug targets for drug discovery continues to grow; this journal will be essential reading for all pharmaceutical scientists involved in drug discovery and development.