Wnt Signaling in Cardiac Remodeling and Heart Failure

Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2017:243:371-393. doi: 10.1007/164_2016_56.

Abstract

Wnt signaling plays an essential role during development, but is also activated in diseases as diverse as neurodegeneration, osteoporosis, and cancer. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that Wnt signaling is also activated during cardiac remodeling and heart failure. In this chapter, we will provide a brief overview of Wnt signaling in all its complexity. Then we will discuss the evidence for its involvement in the development of cardiac hypertrophy, the wound healing after myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure. Finally, we will provide an overview of the drugs that are available to target Wnt signaling at different levels of the signaling cascade and the results of these pharmacological interventions in cardiac disease.

Keywords: Cardiac hypertrophy; Cardiac remodeling; Frizzled; Heart failure; Myocardial infarction; Therapeutic target; Wnt Signaling.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cardiomegaly / metabolism*
  • Cardiomegaly / physiopathology
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy
  • Heart Failure / metabolism*
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Myocardial Infarction / metabolism*
  • Myocardial Infarction / physiopathology
  • Ventricular Remodeling / physiology*
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / physiology*
  • Wound Healing