Wnt/frizzled signalling modulates the migration and differentiation of immortalized cardiac fibroblasts.

Aims: The Wnt/frizzled (Fzd) signal transduction cascade has been implicated in the proliferation, differentiation, and migration of many cell types, but the role of this pathway in cardiac fibroblast differentiation is not known. Our lab previously showed an up-regulation of Fzd-1 and -2 expression in myofibroblasts after myocardial infarction (MI), indicating a potential role for the Fzd receptor in fibroblast–myofibroblast differentiation. The present study was performed to further define the role of specific Wnt and Fzd proteins in the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]