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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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WIF1
Wnt inhibitory factor 1
Chromosome 12 · 12q14.3
NCBI Gene: 11197Ensembl: ENSG00000156076.11HGNC: HGNC:18081UniProt: Q9Y5W5
148PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
protein bindingsignaling receptor bindingextracellular regioncell surfacehair coloresophageal adenocarcinomaSalivary Gland Pleomorphic Adenomalymphoid neoplasm
✦AI Summary

WIF1 (Wnt inhibitory factor 1) is a secreted protein that functions as a negative regulator of canonical Wnt signaling by binding to WNT proteins and inhibiting their activities 1. The protein operates as a physiologic inhibitor of the Wnt canonical pathway, with expression localized to the extracellular region and cell surface 1. Mechanistically, WIF1 suppresses Wnt pathway activation by preventing WNT ligand engagement with receptors. In oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), aberrant Wnt signaling leads to increased WIF1 secretion, which interferes with Wnt ligand function on endothelial tight junction proteins, disrupting blood-brain barrier integrity 2. WIF1 expression is upregulated as a compensatory marker of Wnt pathway activation, as demonstrated in MS models where WIF1 marks activated OPCs 3. Clinically, WIF1 functions as a tumor suppressor gene. Its expression correlates positively with survival probability in bladder cancer patients 4. Frequent epigenetic silencing through DNA methylation occurs in mantle cell lymphoma (82% of tumors), contributing to constitutive Wnt pathway activation and uncontrolled cell growth 1. WIF1 overexpression inhibits cancer cell proliferation and migration 4. Additionally, WIF1 ameliorates diabetic retinopathy by suppressing VEGFA expression and restoring mitochondrial function through AMPK/mTOR pathway modulation 5. WIF1 downregulation in lung cancer associates with tumor progression 6.

Sources cited
1
WIF1 is a physiologic inhibitor of the Wnt canonical pathway; methylation/silencing of WIF1 is frequent in mantle cell lymphoma and contributes to aberrant Wnt pathway activation
PMID: 33477402
2
Aberrant Wnt tone in OPCs leads to WIF1 secretion that interferes with Wnt ligand function on endothelial tight junction integrity and blood-brain barrier disruption in MS
PMID: 30988524
3
WIF1 expression marks activated oligodendrocyte precursor cells in response to Wnt pathway overactivation in MS models
PMID: 40173259
4
WIF1 functions as a tumor suppressor gene in bladder cancer; WIF1 mRNA expression correlates positively with patient survival; overexpression inhibits cell proliferation and migration
PMID: 37206019
5
WIF1 ameliorates diabetic retinopathy through suppression of VEGFA expression and restoration of mitochondrial function via AMPK/mTOR pathway
PMID: 36063130
6
WIF1 is a tumor suppressor gene downregulated in lung cancer with low USP15 expression, associated with cancer progression
PMID: 35422093
7
WIF1 marks a minor fibroblast population in healthy lung tissue; WIF1hi fibroblasts are reduced in systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease
PMID: 31405848
8
WIF1 is a fusion partner with HMGA2 in pleomorphic adenoma of salivary glands, occurring in distinctive trabecular adenoma-like variant tumors
PMID: 34324456
Disease Associationsⓘ20
hair colorOpen Targets
0.45Moderate
esophageal adenocarcinomaOpen Targets
0.39Weak
Salivary Gland Pleomorphic AdenomaOpen Targets
0.37Weak
bile duct carcinomaOpen Targets
0.37Weak
breast ductal adenocarcinomaOpen Targets
0.37Weak
carcinoma of liver and intrahepatic biliary tractOpen Targets
0.37Weak
Hepatobiliary NeoplasmOpen Targets
0.37Weak
lymphoid neoplasmOpen Targets
0.37Weak
Ovarian Endometrioid Adenocarcinoma with Squamous DifferentiationOpen Targets
0.37Weak
Salivary Gland Carcinoma ex Pleomorphic AdenomaOpen Targets
0.37Weak
temporomandibular joint disorderOpen Targets
0.31Weak
non-small cell lung carcinomaOpen Targets
0.30Weak
breast carcinomaOpen Targets
0.30Weak
urinary bladder carcinomaOpen Targets
0.30Weak
lung adenocarcinomaOpen Targets
0.29Weak
hepatocellular carcinomaOpen Targets
0.29Weak
pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomaOpen Targets
0.29Weak
colorectal adenocarcinomaOpen Targets
0.29Weak
lung carcinomaOpen Targets
0.29Weak
head and neck squamous cell carcinomaOpen Targets
0.29Weak
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
APCDD1LShared pathway100%CXXC4Shared pathway100%SFRP2Protein interaction95%SFRP5Protein interaction95%WNT3AProtein interaction95%WNT4Protein interaction95%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Lung
100%
Brain
58%
Bone Marrow
21%
Ovary
1%
Liver
0%
Heart
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
WIF1APCDD1LCXXC4SFRP2SFRP5WNT3AWNT4
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB2YGN · 1.85 Å · X-ray
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.92LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.68 [0.51–0.92]
RankingsWhere WIF1 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #3,076of 20,598
    Most Researched148 · top quartile
  • #8,497of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.92
Genes detectedWIF1
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Single-cell analysis reveals fibroblast heterogeneity and myofibroblasts in systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease.
PMID: 31405848
Ann Rheum Dis · 2019
1.00
2
HMGA2-WIF1 Rearrangements Characterize a Distinctive Subset of Salivary Pleomorphic Adenomas With Prominent Trabecular (Canalicular Adenoma-like) Morphology.
PMID: 34324456
Am J Surg Pathol · 2022
0.90
3
Oligodendroglial precursor cells modulate immune response and early demyelination in a murine model of multiple sclerosis.
PMID: 40173259
Sci Transl Med · 2025
0.80
4
Epigenetic regulation of human WIF1 and DNA methylation situation of WIF1 and GSTM5 in urothelial carcinoma.
PMID: 37206019
Heliyon · 2023
0.70
5
Wnt inhibitory factor 1 ameliorated diabetic retinopathy through the AMPK/mTOR pathway-mediated mitochondrial function.
PMID: 36063130
FASEB J · 2022
0.60