WNT7b mediates macrophage-induced programmed cell death in patterning of the vasculature.
Macrophages have a critical role in inflammatory and immune responses through their ability to recognize and engulf apoptotic cells. Here we show that macrophages initiate a cell-death programme in target cells by activating the canonical WNT pathway. We show in mice that macrophage WNT7b is a short-range paracrine signal required for WNT-pathway responses and programmed cell death in the vascular endothelial cells of the temporary hyaloid vessels of the developing eye. These findings indicate that macrophages can use WNT ligands to influence cell-fate decisions--including cell death--in adjacent cells, and raise the possibility that they do so in many different cellular contexts.
Lobov
Ivan B
IB
Division of Developmental Biology, The Children's Hospital Research Foundation and Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA.
Rao
Sujata
S
Carroll
Thomas J
TJ
Vallance
Jefferson E
JE
Ito
Masataka
M
Ondr
Jennifer K
JK
Kurup
Savita
S
Glass
Donald A
DA
Patel
Millan S
MS
Shu
Weiguo
W
Morrisey
Edward E
EE
McMahon
Andrew P
AP
Karsenty
Gerard
G
Lang
Richard A
RA
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005123:Eye / Q000098:blood supply*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008024:Ligands; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D019899:Paracrine Communication; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051153:Wnt Proteins
D006023:Glycoproteins; D008024:Ligands; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051153:Wnt Proteins; C095937:Wnt7b protein, mouse