Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Nov 1.
Published in final edited form as: Blood Rev. 2013 Sep 2;27(6):261–267. doi: 10.1016/j.blre.2013.08.002

Figure 1. DKK1 inhibits Wnt signaling pathway in MBD.

Figure 1

DKK1 protein is a classical inhibitor of Wnt signaling pathway that typically antagonizes Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, by binding to the Wnt co-receptors Lrp and blocking their interaction with Wnt and transmembrane co-receptors Frizzled. Kremens are single-pass transmembrane DKK1 receptors that synergize with DKK1 to inhibit Wnt signaling by promoting the endocytosis of LRP. DKK1 protein act as natural Wnt antagonists by bridging LRP and Kremens, inducing the internalization of the complex. Activating the β-catenin/T cell factor (TCF) transcription complex consequently regulates downstream target genes. Thus, it is expected to negatively regulation bone formation in MBD.