title: Inhibition of Wnt signaling, modulation of Tau phosphorylation and induction of neuronal cell death by DKK1.
abstract: Expression of the Wnt antagonist Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) is induced during neurodegenerative processes associated with Alzheimer's Disease and brain ischemia. However, little is known about DKK1-mediated effects on neurons. We now describe that, in cultured neurons, DKK1 is able to inhibit canonical Wnt signaling, as assessed by TCF reporter assay and analysis of beta-catenin levels, and to elicit cell death associated with loss of BCL-2 expression, induction of BAX, and TAU hyperphosphorylation. Local infusion of DKK1 in rats caused neuronal cell death and astrocytosis in the CA1 region of the hippocampus and death of cholinergic neurons in the nucleus basalis magnocellularis. Both effects were reversed by systemic administration of lithium ions, which rescue the Wnt pathway by inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase-3beta. The demonstration that DKK1 inhibits Wnt signaling in neurons and causes neuronal death supports the hypothesis that inhibition of the canonical Wnt pathway contributes to the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders.
authors.affiliation: Siena Biotech S.p.A., 53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scali
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caraci
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gianfriddo
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Diodato
authors.forename: Renza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roncarati
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pollio
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gaviraghi
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Copani
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: Georg C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Terstappen
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caricasole
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020532:Basal Nucleus of Meynert / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005911:Gliosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C501126:DKK1 protein, human; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051176:beta Catenin; D016875:tau Proteins; D008094:Lithium; C000605506:GSK3B protein, human; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; C000605508:Gsk3b protein, rat; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3