What Lies Beneath: Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling and Cell Fate in the Lower Dermis

Dermal cell populations are markedly heterogeneous, and they have the capacity to differentiate into dynamic and complex dermal cell compartments. However, the regulatory processes that govern the establishment of each dermal subset remain unknown. Mastrogiannaki et al. provide evidence of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling controlling adipogenic differentiation in the developing reticular dermis. They also show that overexpression of localized Wnt converts dermal adipose cells into a distinct fibroblast subtype, which leads to fibrosis and disrupted hair follicle cycling. These findings highlight the multifaceted roles of Wnt signaling in the normal development and pathology of skin, including the establishment of dermal identity. Further understanding of Wnt involvement and uncovering the roles of specific Wnt ligands could be useful for discovering new therapeutic targets in treating fibrosis-related disorders.