title: Wnt signaling in the vessel wall.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Wnt signaling plays a crucial role during embryogenesis. In an adult, Wnt is mainly associated to cellular proliferation and differentiation mechanisms. Recent data suggest that Wnt signaling is involved in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. However, the roles of Wnt signaling pathways in the vessel wall are poorly understood. This review outlines recent discoveries in understanding the role of Wnt pathways in healthy and atherosclerotic vessels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the last years, the involvement of both canonical and noncanonical Wnt pathways in the development of atherosclerotic lesions has been recognized. Indeed, several Wnt pathway components have been shown to participate in the early, intermediate, and late stages of atherosclerosis development. Specifically, the role of the Wnt coreceptors low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 seems to be crucial for atherosclerotic plaque progression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many of the clinical trials developed in the last decade to reduce atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases have been futile or have failed possibly because of a poor understanding of new mechanisms that lead to diseases. The understanding of the signaling pathways involved in human atherosclerosis development should help in the development of future therapies.
authors.affiliation: aCardiovascular Research Center (CSIC-ICCC), IIB-Sant Pau and CIBERCV, Institute Carlos III bCardiovascular Research Chair, UAB, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Badimon
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borrell-Pages
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005487:Foam Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008024:Ligands; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D015398:Signal Transduction; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008024:Ligands; D051153:Wnt Proteins