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Editorial Guest

Wnt signaling, a novel pathway for coronary artery disease and

metabolic syndrome
A Mani
Yale University School of Medicine

Genetic influences on coronary artery molecular mechanisms that unify their asso-
disease ciation have been obscure. Following we will

M uch of the reduction in the incidence of

myocardial infarction is attributable to
the identification of reversible coronary artery
describe our identification of a gene respon-
sible for CAD and metabolic syndrome discov-
ered in an Iranian kindred. The mutation in this
disease risk factors that have been identified gene impairs a pathway known as Wnt signal-
by epidemiological studies. Genetic studies ing pathway. With the expansion of research in
of rare families segregating single genes that Wnt signaling pathways, our knowledge about
impart very large effects on CAD risk factors the role of this pathway in physiological pro-
have identified many genes and physiologic cesses of glucose and lipid metabolism and
pathways1-3. For example, mutations that im- the pathogenesis of diabetes and coronary ar-
pair function of the LDL receptor or the LDL tery disease continues to increase.
endocytosis machinery lead to hypercholes-
terolemia, mutations in ABCA1 impair the Identification of LRP6 mutation as a cause
systemic cholesterol efflux pathway leads to of coronary artery disease and metabolic
low HDL and Tangier disease and mutations syndrome
in ABCG5/8 impair cholesterol efflux from the We have characterized a large Iranian family
enterocyte and biliary system that leads to a with autosomal dominant early CAD, features
disease called sitostrolemia. Finally, mutations of the metabolic syndrome (hyperlipidemia, hy-
in genes that impair glucose sensing or insulin pertension, and diabetes) and osteoporosis6.
secretion by pancreatic beta cells constitute These traits showed genetic linkage to a short
Mendelian forms of diabetes mellitus1-3. These segment of chromosome 12p in which we iden-
mutations account for only small proportion of tified a missense mutation in LRP6, which en-
all CAD cases. Surprisingly, many of these risk codes a co-receptor in the Wnt signaling path-
factors cluster with one another more often way (fig. 1). The mutation, which substitutes
than expected by chance4,5 ; while this cluster- cysteine for arginine at a evolutionarily highly
ing, referred to as the metabolic syndrome, is conserved residue of an epidermal growth fac-
recognized to be a common cause of CAD, the tor-like domain, impairs the Wnt signaling in vitro.
Genotype phenotype correlation showed
Correspondence: that the mutation impacts not only CAD but
Arya Mani
Yale University School of Medicine a constellation of risk factors (hypertension,
Email: [email protected]

59 Iranian Cardiovascular Research Journal Vol. 1, No. 2, 2007

 A Mani www.icrj.ir

Table 1. Comparison of phenotypes in carriers and non-carriers of LRPR611C

Trait  LRPR611C carriers Non-carriers P-value

LDL, mg/dl 170 + 12 98 + 5 6x10-6

Triglycerides, mg/dl 209 + 71 68 + 20 1x10-5
HDL, mg/dl 57 + 8 56 + 7 0.4
BMI, kg/m2 24.3 + 2.6 24.4 + 1.6 0.13
Systolic BP, mmHg 168 + 21 116 + 5 8x10-5
Diastolic BP, mmHg 100 + 14 81 + 7 0.0025

hyperlipidemia, diabetes) that together are gen- LRP6 and the WNT signaling pathway
erally referred to as metabolic syndrome (Table Low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)-
1). Our findings establish a causal link between related protein LRP6 is a members of the
impaired LRP6 function and early CAD and expanding LDL receptor family7-11. LRP6 and
identify the Wnt signaling as a novel pathway LRP5 are indispensable co-receptors of the
involved in coronary artery disease and devel- canonical Wnt pathway by interacting with
opment of metabolic syndrome. Following we several key components of the Wnt/ß-catenin
will describe different elements of Wnt signaling signaling pathway (Fig. 2).
pathway and their relationship with the LRP6. Wnts are secreted family of cysteine

Figure 1: (a) The DNA sequence of a segment of LRP6 exon 9 in an unaffected (left) a heterozygous mutation carrier (middle)
and the homozygous index case (right). (b) A schematic diagram of the structure of LRP6. (c) A portion of the second EGF-like
domain of LRP6 in diverse vertebrate species.

Iranian Cardiovascular Research Journal Vol. 1, No. 2, 2007 60

www.icrj.ir Wnt signaling in CAD

Figure 2: Wnt signaling pathway

rich signaling molecules associated with ex- mic ß-catenin is translocated to the nucleus
tracellular matrix that regulate diverse pro- and forms a heterodimer complex with a family
cesses. Extensive work has been done in of high-mobility group-like transcription factors,
relation to the Wnt signaling and cell prolif- including leukocyte enhancer factor-1 (LEF-1)
eration, migration, polarity, differentiation, and T-cell factors (TCF1-4)21, activating tran-
axon outgrowth and regulation of bone me- scription of target genes. LRP6 also binds to
tabolism12-17. Our findings in human in con- a number of naturally occurring antagonists of
junction with recent works in mouse18, 19 under- the Wnt signaling pathway that include Dickkopf
score the Wnt signaling’s emerging involve- (Dkk1 and Dkk2)22. Following we will describe
ment in diverse pathways such as glucose our current knowledge about the role of Wnt
and lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis. signaling in different disease pathogenesis.
Wnts bind to two co-receptors, the Frizzled-
type seven-transmembrane-domain receptor The Wnt signaling in diabetes
and the LRP 5/620(Fig.2). The canonical Wnt One of the target genes of TCF is proglu-
signaling pathway is characterized by a Wnt- cagon (glu) ,which is expressed in pancre-
dependent inhibition of glycogen synthase ki- atic islet α-cells, intestinal endocrine L cells,
nase-3ß (GSK-3ß), a serine theronine kinase and selected neural cells in the brain23. Post-
which is assembled in a large cytoplasmic com- translational processing leads to the cell/tis-
plex that includes Dishevelled, casein kinase sue-specific biosynthesis of three major
I, Axin, APC, and CK1 7-11. These interactions peptide hormones, glucagon, glucagon-like
cause ß-catenin stabilization by inhibiting its peptide-1 (GLP-1), and GLP-2. Glucagon is
phosphorylation. As a consequence, cytoplas- synthesized in the pancreatic α-cells and is a

61 Iranian Cardiovascular Research Journal Vol. 1, No. 2, 2007

 A Mani www.icrj.ir

counter-regulatory hormone to insulin. GLP- and its overexpression induces apoptosis34,

1 is produced in the gut and brain (and pos- by both inhibiting survival-promoting transcrip-
sibly pancreas) and lowers blood sugar levels tion factors such as CREB 35, and facilitat-
through stimulation of insulin secretion in the ing pro-apoptotic transcription factors, such
postprandial state24and its biosynthesis by as p5336, especially during hypoxia 37 and
promoting pancreatic endocrine cell growth25, ER stress 38. Apoptosis of beta cell in diabe-
and through tissue specific inhibition of glu- tes is thought to be caused by phosphoryla-
cagon release, increasing insulin sensitivity, tion of the initiation factor eIF2B by GSK3 39.
and induction of satiety26. In glucose-intolerant One of the mechanisms contributing to in-
Wistar rats GLP-1 activates insulin, GLUT-2, sulin resistance is increased activity of GSK3.
and glucokinase genes at the transcriptional GSK3 action is increased in diabetic rodents40
level. This is associated with an expansion and in skeletal muscle from patients with type
of beta-cell mass via islet-cell neogenesis 27, 2 diabetes. GSK3 inhibits glycogen synthesis
28
. Similar findings are seen using the GLP-1 and glucose uptake, alters the expression of
receptor agonist exendin-4 in partially pan- genes regulated by insulin, and inhibits the
createctomized diabetic rats 28. A GLP-1-de- insulin-receptor-coupled protein (IRS-1) via
pendent differentiation of pancreatic precur- its phosphorylation 41. Inhibitors of GSK3 en-
sor cells into mature beta cells has also been hance responses to insulin, lower blood glu-
proposed29. Finally, an inhibitory effect of cose levels and stimulate glucose transport
GLP-1 on islet-cell apoptosis has been ob- and glycogen synthesis in skeletal muscle
served both in vivo and in vitro 30, 31. Interest- from insulin-resistant Zucker rats, and in-
ingly recent studies in human have shown that crease IRS-1 expression and glucose uptake
variant of TCF7L2 confer risk of diabetes on in human skeletal muscle. PPARs, a target
human32, 33. Mutations in several other TCFs gene of β-cathenin, promotes glycolysis in
have been associated with type 1 diabetes. the liver, leading to reduced hepatic glucose
output and lowering of blood glucose levels 42.
GSK3 is a key mediator of the Wnt Future studies will certainly shed light on
signaling pathway in Glucose metabolism the exact molecular mechanism respon-
Among the peptides in the Wnt signaling sible for metabolic syndrome and coronary
pathway GSK3 is of particular importance artery disease caused by LRP6 mutation.
(Fig. 2). GSK3 is a regulator of cell survival

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