# WNT5a Signaling in Stage Specific Alveolar Epithelial Cell Differentiation

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 2020 · $40,854

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Maturation of fetal organs to support life after birth is a significantly vital process. However, in most cases,
this process is poorly investigated/understood. In the lung, failure in maturation is a significant health
problem. In preterm infants, it can cause Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) and BronchoPulmonary
Dysplasia (BPD).
We have found that loss-of-function for a non-canonical WNT ligand, WNT5a inhibits lung maturation.
Two key defects include inhibition of alveolar type 1 epithelial cell (AEC1) differentiation and alveolar
myofibroblast (AMF) differentiation. Importantly, the converse is also true; Wnt5a gain-of-function
promotes lung maturation & AEC1 differentiation. In additional preliminary studies, we show that loss-of-
function of WNT5a receptors, ROR1 and ROR2, results in similar defects in lung maturation as in WNT5a
loss-of-function. WNT5a activates Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) an important
cytoplasmic signal transduction molecule. Inhibiting CaMKII also disrupts lung maturation. Based on the
collective preliminary findings, we propose the following hypothesis:
HYPOTHESIS: WNT5a-ROR signaling is a key regulator of lung maturation. This pathway controls the
structural, cellular and molecular steps that ultimately contribute to the formation of functional lungs.
In this application, we will focus on AEC1 and AMF differentiation, as two key cellular mechanisms
controlled by WNT5a during lung maturation. Multiple tissue specific, conditional in vivo models that
target Wnt5a and Rors in AEC and AMF during lung maturation will be used to determine their cell-type
specific functions in saccular and alveolar stages. The studies will also determine the role of CaMKII as
WNT5a mediator. We propose the following Specific Aims.
Specific Aim 1. To Determine the Function of WNT5a Signaling in AEC During Lung Maturation.
Specific Aim 2. To Determine the Function of WNT5a Signaling in AMF During Lung Maturation.
Specific Aim 3. To Determine the Role of CaMKII as a Downstream Intracellular Mediator of
 WNT5a Signaling in Lung Maturation.
Health Relevance: Lung maturation is an existential requirement for surviving after birth. If successful,
the results of this research will likely have a meaningful impact on understanding the mechanisms
underlying lung maturation, which may help in development of more effective & novel therapies for lung
diseases in premature infants. Determining the role of WNT5a, RORs & CaMKII in lung maturation could
further suggest therapeutic targets at different levels of signal transduction & may allow for more selective
modulation of this process.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10116775
- **Project number:** 3R01HL144932-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **Principal Investigator:** CHANGGONG LI
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $40,854
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-03-06 → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10116775

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10116775, WNT5a Signaling in Stage Specific Alveolar Epithelial Cell Differentiation (3R01HL144932-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10116775. Licensed CC0.

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