The role of Wnt5a in osteoblast and osteosarcoma

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26861181
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Orthopaedic surgery
• Research Institution: Shinshu University
• Principal Investigator: OKAMOTO Masanori 信州大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教(診療) (50596781)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: Wntシグナル / Wnt5a / Lrp5/6 / 骨芽細胞分化 / 骨形成 / 骨肉腫

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Wnt ligands regulate bone formation through beta-catenin-dependent canonical and beta-catenin-independent noncanonical Wnt signaling pathways. The two signaling pathways cooperate with each other during osteoblastogenesis, although noncanonical Wnt5a antagonizes the canonical Wnt pathway in various types of cells. This study revealed that Wnt5a-induced noncanonical signals enhance the canonical Wnt pathway through up-regulation of Lrp5/6 to achieve proper bone formation.
We also found that Wnt5a up-regulate Lrp5/6 expression in the human osteosarcoma cell (malignant bone tumor). Furthermore, this study suggested that Wnt5a regulate cell proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma.

Free Research Field

整形外科学