Wnt Signaling Is Deranged in Asthmatic Bronchial Epithelium and Fibroblasts

The study examined Wnt signaling disruptions in the bronchial epithelium and fibroblasts of severe asthma patients, using data from 17 patients and 23 healthy volunteers. It identified 35 differentially expressed genes, with 12 downregulated in severe asthma, including CTNNB1 and WNT5A, indicating disrupted Wnt signaling. In asthmatic fibroblasts, canonical Wnt signaling was upregulated, while non-canonical pathways were downregulated, affecting calcium mobilization and CTNNB1 expression. Inhibition of Wnt signaling reduced senescence in fibroblasts and affected fibroblast growth, highlighting its role in asthma pathogenesis. The study suggested that Wnt signaling could be a therapeutic target for asthma, as it played a role in T cell development, immune regulation, and fibroblast dysfunction.