Cross-talk between transforming growth factor-β and Wingless/Int pathways in lung development and disease

Lung development depends on accurate and precise patterning of a pulmonary anlagen. consisting of both endodermally and mesodermally derived progenitor cells. In this process, the need to establish communication and control among individual cells is paramount Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) and Wingless/int (Wnt) signaling pathways serve this need The individual functional repertoire of the two pathways is further expanded by cross-talk and integration of signaling at multiple levels taking advantage of their hard-wired multi-component signal transduction platforms Cross-talk creates the possibility for both specificity and versatility in signaling during development and during repair of injured tissue Understanding the mechanics and the physiological implications of this cross-talk is necessary for therapeutic or preventive targeting of either TGF beta or Wnt signaling pathways (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.