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Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Studying Wnt Signaling During Patterning of Conducting Airways
Published on: October 16, 2016
Wnt signaling in lung organogenesis
Stijn P De Langhe1, Susan D Reynolds
1Department of Pediatrics; National Jewish Medical Research Center; Denver, Colorado USA.
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.
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