WNT/β‐catenin signaling in liver health and disease

• Published in: Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) Vol. 45; no. 5; pp. 1298 - 1305
• Main Authors: Thompson, Michael D., Monga, Satdarshan P. S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.05.2007; Wiley
• Subjects: Animals; beta Catenin - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - drug therapy; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Liver - embryology; Liver - growth & development; Liver - physiology; Liver Cirrhosis - physiopathology; Liver Diseases - physiopathology; Liver Neoplasms - physiopathology; Liver Regeneration - physiology; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Medical sciences; Other diseases. Semiology; Oxidative Stress; Signal Transduction - physiology; Wnt Proteins - physiology; Hepatic fibrosis; Pathophysiology; Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway; Hepatic disease; Malignant tumor; Signalling; Stress; Anatomic pathology; Liver tumor; β Catenin; Fibrosis; Digestive diseases; Physiology; Cancer
• ISSN: 0270-9139; 1527-3350
• DOI: 10.1002/hep.21651

Wnt/β‐catenin signaling is emerging as a forerunner for its critical roles in many facets of human biology. Its roles in embryogenesis, organogenesis, and maintaining tissue and organ homeostasis demonstrate its munificent character. Its roles in pathological conditions such as cancer and other human disorders such as inflammatory disorders and fibrosis reveal its villainous disposition. In liver, it also maintains its dual personality and is clearly of essence in several physiological events such as development, regeneration, and growth. Its aberrant activation is also evident in many different tumors of the liver, and recent studies are beginning to identify its role in additional hepatic pathological conditions. It is contributing to liver physiology and pathology by regulating various basic cellular events, including differentiation, proliferation, survival, oxidative stress, morphogenesis, and others. This review discusses the contribution of the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway in these events and simultaneously provides an essential overview of the major developments in the field of Wnt/β‐catenin and liver pathobiology. In addition, areas that are currently deficient or understudied are identified and discussed along with the avenues of translational and clinical relevance. (HEPATOLOGY 2007;45:1298–1305.)