The Wnt Inhibitor, Dickkopf 4, Is Induced by Canonical Wnt Signaling During Ectodermal Appendage Morphogenesis
May 2007
in “
Developmental biology
”
TLDR The study found that the protein Dkk4 helps regulate hair growth by controlling Wnt signaling in mice.
The study investigated the role of the Wnt inhibitor Dickkopf 4 (Dkk4) in ectodermal appendage morphogenesis, particularly hair follicle (HF) development. Researchers found that Dkk4 is induced by canonical Wnt signaling and is transiently expressed during the pre-placode stage of appendage formation, suggesting a negative feedback mechanism to regulate HF patterning. Experimental validation showed that Dkk4 is a target of Wnt signaling, with LEF1/β-catenin complexes binding to its promoter. The study proposed that Dkk4 might also facilitate a switch from canonical to non-canonical Wnt signaling, influencing cell movements during HF morphogenesis.
