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Unveiling the mechanism behind sea urchin twinning

Using advanced microscopy and molecular biology, researchers visualized axis reconstruction in sea urchin embryos, tracking cellular movements and gene activation to understand self-organizing ability. This discovery sheds light on the long-standing question of monozygotic twinning emergence from one fertilized egg.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 5, 2025

Gut cells found to 'whisper' like brain neurons: Discovery redefines how the body heals itself

Scientists discovered a precise communication system in the gut, where telocytes deliver signals directly to intestinal stem cells using fine extensions. This finding challenges long-standing assumptions about gut healing and repair, potentially leading to better treatments for conditions like IBD and colon cancer.

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalDevelopmental Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 23, 2025

Unraveling the role of the Wnt pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma: From molecular mechanisms to therapeutic implications

The Wnt signaling pathway is essential for HCC development, promoting cell proliferation, migration, and immune evasion. Targeting this pathway holds significant promise for therapeutic strategies, including small molecule inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and gene therapies.

SourceXia & He Publishing Inc.·JournalJournal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology·DateFeb 18, 2025

The targeting of WNT5B and WNT10B in osteosarcoma

Researchers identify key genes involved in osteoblast differentiation, finding positive correlations between WNT10B and these genes, and inverse correlations with WNT5B. The study hypothesizes that the use of WNT activators or inhibitors depends on whether canonical or non-canonical pathways are activated.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeNews article·DateSep 4, 2024

Singapore scientists uncover a crucial link between cholesterol synthesis and cancer progression

Researchers at Duke-NUS Medical School discovered a novel enzyme, FAXDC2, that plays a pivotal role in cholesterol synthesis and cancer progression. The study highlights the potential vulnerability of cancer cells to targeted therapeutic intervention. Further research is needed to explore the therapeutic potential of targeting FAXDC2 i...

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 2, 2024

Kinase-targeted therapy in subsets of colorectal cancer

Researchers explore kinase inhibitors as targeted therapies for specific CRC subsets, offering hope for improved treatment options. Key findings suggest that uncovering essential kinases for tumor growth can lead to more effective treatment strategies in metastatic or later-stage CRC patients.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncoscience·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateSep 22, 2023

NUS study: A patchwork of Wnt signalling ligands and receptors pattern the colours on the wings of butterflies

A NUS study reveals how Wnt signalling regulates colour patterns in butterfly wings, with different ligands and receptors controlling specific areas. The researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing to test the function of pathway members, showing that they interact and regulate each other.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 3, 2023

New insights into liver cancer development

A study published in Cancer Research identifies a novel mechanism by which liver cancer develops, involving the aberrant activation of the Wnt signaling pathway and the gene GREB1. The research reveals that GREB1 is responsible for integrating conflicting cellular states of differentiation and proliferation, leading to tumor promotion.

SourceOsaka University·JournalCancer Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 27, 2023

Scientists discover mechanism affecting heart development in Down syndrome

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have discovered a molecular mechanism contributing to congenital heart defects in infants with Down syndrome. The study found that an abnormal interferon response inhibits key molecular events required for heart development, leading to impaired cardiogenesis.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournaliScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 21, 2023

Restoring the blood-brain barrier?

Researchers developed a new therapeutic molecule that activates WNT signaling to restore the blood-brain barrier's normal function. The treatment showed promise in treating conditions such as multiple sclerosis and ischemic stroke by reducing the severity of strokes and improving survival rates.

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 20, 2023

Oncotarget | Resistance of MMTV-NeuT/ATTAC mice to anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint therapy is associated with macrophage infiltration and Wnt pathway expression

Researchers found that MMTV-NeuT/ATTAC mice treated with anti-PD-1 therapy developed increased tumor-associated macrophages, EMT, fibroblast proliferation, and enhanced extracellular matrix. These findings suggest potential therapeutic avenues to enhance PD-1 immune checkpoint sensitivity.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 5, 2023

From droplet to discovery

Researchers found that proteins coalesce into a liquid droplet to process and relay information in stem cells, which could be a target for cancer therapies. The droplet's unique structure enables efficient processing of proteins, making it a crucial component in cancer development.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 28, 2022

Genetic study identifies migraine causes and promising therapeutic targets

Researchers have found blood proteins that cause migraine, including DKK1 and PDGFB, which inhibit Wnt signalling pathways. Lower levels of antioxidant proteins FARS2, GSTA4, and CHIC2 also contribute to inflammation linked to migraine. Therapies targeting increased DKK1 levels may represent novel tools for treatment.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 11, 2022

Light can trigger key signaling pathway for embryonic development, cancer

Scientists at the University of Illinois have developed a method to regulate the Wnt signaling pathway using blue light, allowing them to study its functions in embryonic development and cancer. This approach enables precise control over the pathway's activity, potentially leading to new treatments for tissue repair and cancer research.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Molecular Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 17, 2021

A hairpin to fight cancer

Researchers have developed a bicyclic peptide that binds to and inhibits the oncogenic protein beta-catenin, which is associated with certain types of tumor. The peptide's unique hairpin shape and cyclic nature mimic natural protein structures, making it an attractive starting point for developing new antitumor drugs.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateMay 12, 2021

Double trouble for drug-resistant cancers

Researchers at Duke-NUS Medical School and A*STAR discovered that inhibiting the Wnt signalling pathway with ETC-159 can reverse PARP inhibitor resistance in several cancer cell lines. This breakthrough could lead to novel anti-cancer treatments for cancers with overactive Wnt signalling, such as colorectal cancer.

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalEMBO Molecular Medicine·DateMar 15, 2021

Master designers: Architects of the brain revealed

Researchers at Kanazawa University have made significant discoveries about the mechanisms behind brain column formation. They found that planar cell polarity (PCP) and Wnt signaling pathways play key roles in creating these three-dimensional structures, which are essential for proper brain development.

SourceKanazawa University·JournalCell Reports·DateJan 12, 2021