The Wnt antagonist, Dickkopf-1, as a target for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
The canonical Wnt pathway contributes to the regulation of neuronal survival and homeostasis in the CNS. Recent evidence suggests that an increased expression of Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1), a secreted protein that negatively modulates the canonical Wnt pathway, is causally related to processes of neurodegeneration in a number of CNS disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), brain ischemia and temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Dkk-1 induction precedes neuronal death in cellular and animal models of excitotoxicity, beta-amyloid toxicity, transient global ischemia, and kainate-induced epilepsy. In addition, Dkk-1, which is barely visible in the healthy brain, is strongly induced in brain tissue from AD patients or from patients with TLE associated with hippocampal sclerosis. These data raise the attractive possibility that Dkk-1 antagonists or neutralizing antibodies behave as neuroprotective agents by rescuing the activity of the canonical Wnt pathway.
Caraci
Filippo
F
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy. carafil@hotmail.com
Busceti
Carla
C
Biagioni
Francesca
F
Aronica
Eleonora
E
Mastroiacovo
Federica
F
Cappuccio
Irene
I
Battaglia
Giuseppe
G
Bruno
Valeria
V
Caricasole
Andrea
A
Copani
Agata
A
Nicoletti
Ferdinando
F
D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
C501126:DKK1 protein, human; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D051153:Wnt Proteins