β-catenin dependent Wnt signaling improved regeneration and survival in a model of emphysema (Kneidinger et al., 2011), and inhibition of WNT5A, and thus presumably some component of β-catenin independent Wnt signaling, improved repair in a model of COPD (Baarsma et al., 2017). This evidence concerns the gene WNT5A and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.