[Research progress of Wif1 in development of nervous system].
Wnt inhibitor factor-1 (WIF-1) is an extracellular antagonist of Wnts secreted proteins, first characterized as an expressed sequence tag in the human retina. WIF-1 belongs to the secreted Frizzled-related protein (sFRP) class, which can directly bind to Wnt proteins, prevent Wnts from binding to their receptors in vertebrates. Wif1 is expressed in the nervous system of mouse, Xenopus, zebrafish and human. It has been shown that WIF-1 affects the formation of somites in Xenopus embryos and inhibits rod production in retinal histogenesis by binding to Wnt4 in mice. Histological information of Wif1 expression during the development of the central nervous system has been reported in mouse, Xenopus and zebrafish and the strong embryonic expression suggests Wif1 may play an essential role in the spatial and temporal regulation of Wnt signals in development of central nervous system. The Wnt pathway plays a key role in the patterning of the nervous system. However, insights into the function of Wif1 in the development of the central nervous system are rather limited. Selecting suitable stage and target according to the expression pattern may contribute to understanding the function of Wif1.
Hu
Yu-an
YA
Department of Central Laboratory Medicine, PLA, Institute of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing General Hospital of PLA Nanjing Command, Nanjing, China. hu_yu_an@163.com
Zhao
Chun-jie
CJ
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D014981:Xenopus
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C485569:WIF1 protein, human; C118544:Wif1 protein, mouse