Wingless Type MMTV Integration Site Family, Member 7B (WNT7B)

WNT7B is a member of the WNT gene family, which consists of structurally related genes that encode secreted signaling proteins. These proteins have been implicated in oncogenesis and in several developmental processes, including regulation of cell fate and patterning during embryogenesis. Among members of the human WNT family, this gene product is most similar to WNT7A protein.WNT7b is a short-range paracrine signal required for WNT pathway responses and programmed cell death in the vascular endothelial cells of the temporary hyaloid vessels of the developing eye. These findings indicated that macrophages can use WNT ligands to influence cell fate decisions--including cell death--in adjacent cells, and raised the possibility that they do so in many different cellular contexts.