The hairpin region of WNT7A is sufficient for binding to the Frizzled7 receptor and to elicit signaling in myogenic cells.

Wnt signaling is essential for embryonic development and tissue homeostasis. So far, little is known about the importance and functional relevance of the different regions in WNT proteins including regions in their C-terminus identified as hairpin and linker. However, it was shown that the C-terminus of WNT7A comprising the linker and the hairpin region is sufficient to elicit signaling.

Stimulation of Non-canonical NF-κB Through Lymphotoxin-β-Receptor Impairs Myogenic Differentiation and Regeneration of Skeletal Muscle.

Myogenic differentiation, muscle stem cell functionality, and regeneration of skeletal muscle are cellular processes under tight control of various signaling pathways. Here, we investigated the role of non-canonical NF-κB signaling in myogenic differentiation, muscle stem cell functionality, and regeneration of skeletal muscle. We stimulated non-canonical NF-κB signaling with an agonistically acting antibody of the lymphotoxin beta receptor (LTβR).

Wnt7a Counteracts Cancer Cachexia.

Cancer cachexia is a complex metabolic disease so far lacking effective therapy, and it accounts for approximately one third of all cancer-related deaths worldwide. The extracellular ligand Wnt7a has a dual function in skeletal muscle, inducing the anabolic AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in myofibers and driving muscle stem cell expansion in skeletal muscle, making it a promising candidate for treatment of muscle wasting diseases. In murine and human myotubes, Wnt7a activates the anabolic AKT/mTOR pathway, thereby preventing cachexia-induced atrophy with a single application being sufficient to prevent atrophy independently of the tumor cell type causing cachexia.

The Puerto Rico study for the prevalence of multiple sclerosis.

This article review the results of a study conducted by the Puerto Rico Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. It presents the results of the first continuous patient registry of the Puerto Rico Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Foundation in the Island between the years 2003 and 2008. It describes the profile of patients with MS and the estimated prevalence.