Review Article

SOST and DKK: Antagonists of LRP Family Signaling as Targets for Treating Bone Disease

Figure 1

The current model for the induction of stabilization of β-catenin by Wnt ligands holds that Wnt proteins bind a complex that includes a member of the frizzled family of seven-transmembrane-spanning receptors and either LRP6 or LRP5. Several proteins have been identified that can block this process and are associated with downregulation of Wnt signaling. These include proteins which bind to the LRP component to prevent association of Wnt ligands with the LRPs (Dkk1 and Sost). In addition, secreted frizzled related proteins (sFRPs) also can block signaling by binding directly to Wnt ligands and potentially interfering with their ability to engage the receptor complex.
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