Ectopic activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in lens fiber cells results in cataract formation and aberrant fiber cell differentiation.

ABSTRACT: The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway controls many processes during development, including cell proliferation, cell differentiation and tissue homeostasis, and its aberrant regulation has been linked to various pathologies. In this study we investigated the effect of ectopic activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling during lens fiber cell differentiation. To activate Wnt/β-catenin signaling in lens fiber cells, the transgenic mouse referred to as αA-CLEF was generated, in which the transactivation domain of β-catenin was fused to the DNA-binding protein LEF1, and expression of the transgene was controlled by αA-crystallin promoter. Constitutive activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in lens fiber cells of αA-CLEF mice resulted in abnormal and delayed fiber cell differentiation. Moreover, adult α

SUBMITTER: Antosova B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3813504 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature