Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2008 Apr;4(2):100-8.
doi: 10.4161/org.4.2.5856.

Wnt signaling in lung organogenesis

Stijn P De Langhe  1 , Susan D Reynolds
Affiliations

Wnt signaling in lung organogenesis

Stijn P De Langhe et al. Organogenesis. 2008 Apr.

Abstract

Reporter transgene, knockout, and misexpression studies support the notion that Wnt/beta-catenin signaling regulates aspects of branching morphogenesis, regional specialization of the epithelium and mesenchyme, and establishment of progenitor cell pools. As demonstrated for other foregut endoderm-derived organs, beta-catenin and the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway contribute to control of cellular proliferation, differentiation and migration. However, the contribution of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling to these processes is shaped by other signals impinging on target tissues. In this review, we will concentrate on roles for Wnt/beta-catenin in respiratory system development, including segregation of the conducting airway and alveolar compartments, specialization of the mesenchyme, and establishment of tracheal asymmetries and tracheal glands.

Keywords: airway; alveolar; endoderm; mesenchyme; morphogenesis; respiratory.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Harkema JR, Carey SA, Wagner JG. The nose revisited: a brief review of the comparative structure, function, and toxicologic pathology of the nasal epithelium. Toxicol Pathol. 2006;34:252–269. - PubMed
    1. Elluru RG, Whitsett JA. Potential role of Sox9 in patterning tracheal cartilage ring formation in an embryonic mouse model. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004;130:732–736. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Rice MA, Dodson BT, Arthur JA, Anseth KS. Cell-based therapies and tissue engineering. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2005;38:199–214. - PubMed
    1. Bucheler M, Haisch A. Tissue engineering in otorhinolaryngology. DNA Cell Biol. 2003;22:549–564. - PubMed
    1. Yamada T, Suzuki E, Gejyo F, Ushiki T. Developmental changes in the structure of the rat fetal lung, with special reference to the airway smooth muscle and vasculature. Arch Histol Cytol. 2002;65:55–69. - PubMed