A Wnt-er wonderland--the complexity of Wnt signaling in melanoma.
Wnt signaling is a complex process that requires the interplay of several different proteins. In addition to a large cohort of Wnt ligands, and frizzled receptors, some Wnt pathways also require the presence of co-receptors. Wnt ligands may activate one of three pathways, the canonical pathway, involving beta -catenin, the planar cell polarity pathway and the Wnt/ calcium pathway. All three pathways have different results for the cells in which they signal. Aberrant activation of these pathways can lead to the development and progression of several cancers. In this review we will discuss the different Wnt pathways, and their contribution to melanoma progression.
Weeraratna
Ashani T
AT
Laboratory of Immunology, The National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. weerarat@grc.nia.nih.gov
D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008024:Ligands; D008545:Melanoma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051153:Wnt Proteins
D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D051153:Wnt Proteins