Epithelial-Mesenchymal Wnt Crosstalk Directs Planar Cell Polarity in the Developing Cochlea

genomics
clinical
Wnt proteins direct planar cell polarity in vertebrates, but their roles in the cochlea remain unclear. Ablating Wnt secretion in the cochlear epithelium and periotic mesenchyme shows that epithelial and mesenchymal Wnts together act as global instructive cues directing cochlear outgrowth and hair cell orientation.
Authors

Ippei Kishimoto

Abel P. David

Kevin P. Rose

Balasubramanian Narasimhan

Bradley Efron

Sara E. Billings

Erin L. Su

Wuxing Dong

Taha A. Jan

Ronna Hertzano

Alan G. Cheng

Published

February 26, 2026