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Preferential methylation of Wnt inhibitory factor-1 in acute promyelocytic leukemia: an independent poor prognostic factor

Leukemia volume 20, pages 907–909 (2006)Cite this article

The Wnt signaling pathway is important in hematolymphopoiesis.1 A critical target of Wnt signaling is β-catenin. β-catenin is normally bound to a multi-protein complex comprising axin, APC, GSK3β, CKIα and PP2A, where β-catenin is phosphorylated by GSK3β, leading to ubiquitylation and proteasome degradation. Activation of the canonical Wnt pathway inhibits GSK3β, resulting in hypophosphorylation and stabilization of β-catenin, which translocates to the nucleus, activates transcription of other target genes, and contributes to tumorigenesis.

Activation of Wnt signaling has been implicated in leukemias.2, 3 The Wnt inhibitory factor 1 (Wif-1) is an extracellular protein that binds Wnt, negatively regulating the Wnt pathway.4 Hence, Wif-1 downregulation may contribute to Wnt pathway activation.

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Acknowledgements

The study was supported in part by the SK Yee Medical Foundation.

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  1. Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    C-S Chim, W W-L Chan, A Pang & Y-L Kwong

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Chim, CS., Chan, WL., Pang, A. et al. Preferential methylation of Wnt inhibitory factor-1 in acute promyelocytic leukemia: an independent poor prognostic factor. Leukemia 20, 907–909 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2404176

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