Non-canonical wnt signals antagonize and canonical wnt signals promote cell proliferation in early kidney development.

ABSTRACT: Canonical and non-canonical wnt signals often have opposed roles. In this report, we use developing Xenopus embryos to demonstrate a novel anti-proliferative role for non-canonical wnt signals in the very earliest stages of kidney development. Non-canonical wnt signals were down-regulated using PDZ domain mutants of dishevelled 2 and up-regulated using wild-type vang-like 2, while canonical signals were manipulated using dominant-negative forms of lef1 or treatment with lithium. When non-canonical signals are down-regulated in the developing Xenopus pronephros, cell proliferation rates increased and when canonical signals were shutdown the opposite occurred. Treatment with lithium chloride has a powerful pro-proliferative effect on the forming nephric primordium. Together these data show t

SUBMITTER: McCoy KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3274170 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature