Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway02:54

Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway

The gene encoding the main signaling molecules of the Wnt signaling pathways (the Wnt proteins) was discovered almost four decades ago by Nüsslein-Volhard and Wieschaus. They identified and originally named the gene "wingless" (wg) after a phenotype discovered during their landmark genetic screen in Drosophila for body pattern defects. At around the same time, another researcher named Harold Varmus found that a murine tumor virus activates the mammalian wg homolog, Int-1, which results in tumor...
Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway02:54

Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathway

The gene encoding the main signaling molecules of the Wnt signaling pathways (the Wnt proteins) was discovered almost four decades ago by Nüsslein-Volhard and Wieschaus. They identified and originally named the gene "wingless" (wg) after a phenotype discovered during their landmark genetic screen in Drosophila for body pattern defects. At around the same time, another researcher named Harold Varmus found that a murine tumor virus activates the mammalian wg homolog, Int-1, which results in tumor...
Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways01:41

Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways

Wnt is a zygotic effect gene that is expressed during very early embryonic development. It regulates various processes in animals starting from early development through the adult stage, such as organogenesis in the embryo and maintenance of neuronal and blood stem cells. Wnt proteins can induce a wide variety of intracellular pathways depending upon the specific abilities of different Wnt ligands to form a complex with shared and cognate receptors in the presence of different co-receptors. The...
Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways01:41

Non-Canonical Wnt Signaling Pathways

Wnt is a zygotic effect gene that is expressed during very early embryonic development. It regulates various processes in animals starting from early development through the adult stage, such as organogenesis in the embryo and maintenance of neuronal and blood stem cells. Wnt proteins can induce a wide variety of intracellular pathways depending upon the specific abilities of different Wnt ligands to form a complex with shared and cognate receptors in the presence of different co-receptors. The...
Catenins01:23

Catenins

Catenins are characterized by multiple binding domains and dynamic structures that allow them to function as linker proteins in cell junction complexes. All catenins, except α-catenin, contain a characteristic protein sequence called the armadillo repeat and are therefore also called armadillo proteins.
Catenins in Cell Junctions
Catenins bind to cell adhesion molecules such as cadherins and link them to different cytoskeletal proteins depending on the type of cell junction. At the adherens...
TGF - β Signaling Pathway01:16

TGF - β Signaling Pathway

The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors are of three kinds RI, RII, and RIII. The RI...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Nox4-mediated ROS production is involved, but not essential for TGFβ-induced lens EMT leading to cataract.

Experimental eye research·2020
Same author

A role for Hippo/YAP-signaling in FGF-induced lens epithelial cell proliferation and fibre differentiation.

Experimental eye research·2018
Same author

Intrinsic and extrinsic regulatory mechanisms are required to form and maintain a lens of the correct size and shape.

Experimental eye research·2016
Same author

Fibrosis in the lens. Sprouty regulation of TGFβ-signaling prevents lens EMT leading to cataract.

Experimental eye research·2015
Same author

Interactions between lens epithelial and fiber cells reveal an intrinsic self-assembly mechanism.

Developmental biology·2013
Same author

Understanding the role of growth factors in embryonic development: insights from the lens.

Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences·2011
Same journal

Understanding the Ocular Accumulation of Mefuparib and its N-dealkylation metabolite: Pharmacokinetics, Melanin Affinity, and Cellular Disposition.

Experimental eye research·2026
Same journal

Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Diabetic Retinopathy: Research Progress from Pathogenic Mechanisms to Therapeutic Targets.

Experimental eye research·2026
Same journal

Middle-Wavelength Green Ambient Light Attenuates Lens-Induced Myopia Progression and Is Associated with Suppression of the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway in Guinea Pigs.

Experimental eye research·2026
Same journal

Experimental Corneal Alkali Burn Models: Methodological Standards, Biological Outcomes, and Translational Gaps.

Experimental eye research·2026
Same journal

Subretinal injection in the USH1CR31* pig model leads to chorioretinal atrophy that limits evaluation of efficacy of an AAV-mediated gene therapy.

Experimental eye research·2026
Same journal

Caffeine suppresses inflammation and subretinal fibrosis through modulation of the thrombospondin-1-Bim axis.

Experimental eye research·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Modeling Cataract Surgery in Mice
05:19

Modeling Cataract Surgery in Mice

Published on: December 1, 2023

TGFbeta promotes Wnt expression during cataract development.

C C W Chong1, R J W Stump, F J Lovicu

  • 1Save Sight Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2001, Australia.

Experimental Eye Research
|September 16, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) triggers lens epithelial cells to undergo epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process implicated in fibrosis and posterior capsular opacification (PCO). This study reveals Wnt signaling is upregulated during TGFbeta-induced EMT in the lens, suggesting a role in cataract development.

More Related Videos

A Possible Zebrafish Model of Polycystic Kidney Disease: Knockdown of wnt5a Causes Cysts in Zebrafish Kidneys
10:51

A Possible Zebrafish Model of Polycystic Kidney Disease: Knockdown of wnt5a Causes Cysts in Zebrafish Kidneys

Published on: December 2, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Modeling Cataract Surgery in Mice
05:19

Modeling Cataract Surgery in Mice

Published on: December 1, 2023

A Possible Zebrafish Model of Polycystic Kidney Disease: Knockdown of wnt5a Causes Cysts in Zebrafish Kidneys
10:51

A Possible Zebrafish Model of Polycystic Kidney Disease: Knockdown of wnt5a Causes Cysts in Zebrafish Kidneys

Published on: December 2, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) is known to induce epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in lens epithelial cells, leading to fibrotic changes and posterior capsular opacification (PCO).
  • Understanding the signaling pathways regulated by TGFbeta is crucial for developing strategies to block its damaging effects in the lens.
  • Wnt signaling pathways are implicated in TGFbeta-induced EMT in various cell types, prompting investigation into their role in the lens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential role of Wnt signaling in regulating TGFbeta-induced epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and subsequent fibrotic changes in the lens.
  • To determine if specific Wnt ligands and their Frizzled receptors are upregulated during TGFbeta-induced EMT and cataract development in ocular models.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to assess Wnt and Frizzled gene expression.
  • Employed in situ hybridization to localize Wnt and Frizzled mRNAs within lens tissues.
  • Used immunolocalization techniques to detect Wnt and Frizzled protein expression.
  • Examined both rat in vitro and mouse in vivo cataract models.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated significant upregulation of Wnts 5a, 5b, 7b, 8a, 8b, and their corresponding Frizzled receptors in association with TGFbeta-induced EMT and cataract development.
  • Observed similar expression profiles for Wnt and Frizzled mRNAs and proteins in both rat in vitro and mouse in vivo models.
  • The study indicates that Wnt signaling is actively involved in the fibrotic processes occurring in the lens.

Conclusions:

  • Wnt signaling pathways play a significant role in TGFbeta-induced epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) within the lens.
  • The observed upregulation of Wnt ligands and Frizzled receptors suggests their involvement in the development of fibrotic plaques and posterior capsular opacification (PCO).
  • Further research is needed to elucidate whether canonical (beta-catenin/TCF) or non-canonical Wnt pathways are activated in this context.