Wnt5a and its signaling pathway in angiogenesis.

ABSTRACT

Wnt5a, a secreted glycoprotein, belongs to the noncanonical Wnt family involved in a wide range of organism development and tissue homeostasis. Wnt5a and its signaling pathway can regulate fundamental cellular processes, including specification of cell fate, proliferation, and survival. Accumulating evidence indicates that Wnt5a exhibits dual effects on angiogenesis. The formation of new blood vessels derives from pre-existing vessels via canonical and non-canonical Wnt pathways, depending on cell types, receptors, downstream effectors, and microenvironment. Given that the regulation of angiogenesis has been implicated in many diseases, such as cancer, neovascular eye diseases, and cardiovascular diseases, these findings suggest that Wnt5a may be a potential target for the treatment of angiogenesis-related diseases.