Wnt/β-catenin signalling: function, biological mechanisms, and therapeutic opportunities

• Published in: Signal transduction and targeted therapy Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 3 - 23
• Main Authors: Liu, Jiaqi, Xiao, Qing, Xiao, Jiani, Niu, Chenxi, Li, Yuanyuan, Zhang, Xiaojun, Zhou, Zhengwei, Shu, Guang, Yin, Gang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 03.01.2022; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/136/2441; 631/337/384; 631/67/395; 631/67/68; 692/700/155; Animals; beta Catenin - genetics; beta Catenin - metabolism; Cancer; Cancer Research; Cell Biology; Cell growth; Clinical trials; Embryogenesis; Endoplasmic reticulum; Genes; Homeostasis; Humans; Internal Medicine; Kinases; Ligands; Lipids; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolism; Neoplasm Proteins - genetics; Neoplasm Proteins - metabolism; Neoplasms - genetics; Neoplasms - metabolism; Oncology; Pathology; Phosphorylation; Plasma; Proteins; Regulation; Review; Review Article; Signal transduction; Tumors; Wnt protein; Wnt Proteins - genetics; Wnt Proteins - metabolism; Wnt Signaling Pathway; β-Catenin
• ISSN: 2059-3635; 2095-9907; 2059-3635
• DOI: 10.1038/s41392-021-00762-6

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway comprises a family of proteins that play critical roles in embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis. The deregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling often leads to various serious diseases, including cancer and non-cancer diseases. Although many articles have reviewed Wnt/β-catenin from various aspects, a systematic review encompassing the origin, composition, function, and clinical trials of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway in tumour and diseases is lacking. In this article, we comprehensively review the Wnt/β-catenin pathway from the above five aspects in combination with the latest research. Finally, we propose challenges and opportunities for the development of small-molecular compounds targeting the Wnt signalling pathway in disease treatment.