Localization pattern of β-catenin in chronic lung disease

Rationale: The WNT/β-catenin signaling has been recently demonstrated to be involved in lung epithelial injury and repair processes. Nuclear localization of β-catenin is a surrogate marker of WNT/β-catenin activation in human tissue. Here, we investigated in detail the distribution pattern of WNT/β-catenin in human tissue specimen obtained from patients with chronic lung diseases. Methods and Results: By means of double immunohistochemical staining of β-catenin and surfactant protein C (SP-C), localization of β-catenin in alveolar epithelial type II (ATII) cells was examined in tissue samples obtained from lung…