title: Wnt signaling in human development: beta-catenin nuclear translocation in fetal lung, kidney, placenta, capillaries, adrenal, and cartilage.
abstract: The Wnt signaling pathway is involved in both normal development and tumorigenesis. Activation of the pathway results in stabilization and nuclear translocation of beta-catenin protein. Nuclear localization of beta-catenin has been used to identify tumors in which mutations in APC or beta-catenin activate Wnt signaling. We analyzed the subcellular localization of beta-catenin immunohistochemically in human fetal and postnatal tissues to identify activation of Wnt signaling during development. Nuclear beta-catenin is present in capillary endothelium, mesenchyme surrounding renal tubules, adrenal cortex, cartilage anlage, placental cytotrophoblast, and pulmonary acinar buds. These investigations suggest a defined role for Wnt signaling in human fetal development and provide a catalogue of non-neoplastic tissues with nuclear beta-catenin staining.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Eberhart
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Argani
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D002196:Capillaries / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D002356:Cartilage / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D007668:Kidney / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin