Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor Related Protein 6-mediated Cardiovascular Diseases and associated signaling pathways

Abstract Low density lipoprotein receptor related protein 6 (LRP6) is a member of the low density lipoprotein receptors (LDLRs) family and accumulating evidence point to the critical role of LRP6 in cardiovascular health and homeostasis. In addition to present the well-appreciated roles in canonical signaling regulating blood pressure, blood glucose and lipid metabolism, and involved in atherosclerosis, cardiac valve disease, cardiac development, Alzheimer disease and tumorigenesis, LRP6 also inhibits non-canonical Wnt signals that promote arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation and vascular calcification. Noticeably, the role of LRP6 is displayed in cardiometabolic disease, an increasingly important clinical burden with aging and obesity. The prospect for cardiovascular diseases treatment via targeting LRP6-mediated signaling pathways may improve central blood pressure and lipid metabolism, and reduce neointima formation and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. Thus, a deep and comprehensive understanding of LRP6 structure, function and signaling pathways will contribute to clinical diagnosis, therapy and new drug development for LRP6 related cardiovascular diseases.