The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in liver biology and disease

The Wnt signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved, highly complex signaling pathway that is critical for development, differentiation and cellular homeostasis. The protein beta-catenin is the central player in one major arm of the Wnt pathway called the canonical Wnt pathway. As in other organs, the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway is critical for liver development. However, recent research suggests that the pathway is also important in liver regeneration, liver metabolism and maintenance of normal function in the adult liver. Aberrant activation of beta-catenin has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of hepatobiliary neoplasia, ranging from benign lesions to liver cancer. The explosion of research into the many roles of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway promises to change our fundamental understanding of normal liver biology and the aberrations that lead to disease and cancer.