The (pro)renin receptor controls Wnt signalling: promise from Drosophila and Xenopus

The (pro)renin receptor (PRR) is a component of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) that is believed to control blood pressure and salt homeostasis in mammals by favouring tissue activation of RAS. Genetic studies have recently provided novel and exciting insights into how PRR regulates embryonic development in Drosophila and Xenopus through RAS independent functions. By interacting with the H+ vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase), PRR modulates Wnt signalling pathways. Signalling by Wnt family members governs many aspects of embryonic development and tissue homeostasis. In particular, in mammals, Wnt signalling plays essential roles in the control of stem cell fate decision and lineage commitment in tissues with high self-renewal capacities such as the intestine and the skin, in which we have found PRR to be strongly expressed. Here, we review recent data on how PRR is thought to function during development and place it in the broader context of wnt signalling in skin in general.