title: The Wnt signaling pathway and rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The Wnt signaling pathways play a key role in cell renewal, and there are two such pathways. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the synovial membrane expresses genes such as Wnt and Fz at higher levels than those observed in patients without RA. The Wnt proteins are glycoproteins that bind to receptors of the Fz family on the cell surface. The Wnt/Fz complex controls tissue formation during embryogenesis, as well as throughout the process of limb development and joint formation. Recent studies have suggested that this signaling pathway plays a role in the pathophysiology of RA. Greater knowledge of the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in RA could improve understanding of the differences in RA clinical presentation and prognosis. Further studies should also focus on Wnt family members as molecular targets in the treatment of RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francieli de Sousa
authors.initials: Fde S
authors.lastname: Rabelo
authors.forename: Licia Maria Henrique
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: da Mota
authors.forename: Rodrigo Aires Corrêa
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Francisco Aires Corrêa
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Gustavo Barcelos
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Barra
authors.forename: Jozélio Freire
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.forename: Angélica Amorim
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Amato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051157:Frizzled Receptors / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000276:immunology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000276:immunology*; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D051157:Frizzled Receptors; D016328:NF-kappa B; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051153:Wnt Proteins