Wnt signaling in intestinal inflammation

Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are a major health burden worldwide. Numerous conserved signaling pathways control tissue injury and repair during colitis, but owing to the complexity of the inflammatory process, their individual contribution remains poorly understood. A key regulatory pathway in the intestinal mucosa is Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, which acts as the central organizer of epithelial stem cell identity and maintenance. Apart from this core function, there is mounting evidence that the Wnt pathway is highly interconnected with numerous other signaling cascades, and that combinatorial signaling events shape epithelial homeostasis and tissue regeneration. Here we provide an updated view of how Wnt signaling intersects with major inflammatory pathways, with a particular focus on intestinal inflammation. Elucidating the reciprocal actions of Wnt ligands and cytokines has the potential to reveal new treatment options for chronic colitis and other inflammatory disorders.