Role of morphogenic proteins of the WNT signaling pathway in coronary artery disease

Abstract

In recent years, researchers’ attention has been directed to the WNT signaling pathway study, which regulates embryogenesis processes and is involved in pathological condition development. The role of morphogenic proteins of WNT signaling pathway in the cardiovascular pathology genesis is practically not clear. The research aim was a comprehensive study of the main proteins of WNT signaling pathway (β-catenin, sclerostin, GSK-3α, GSK-3β, WIF-1 and DVL-1) in the blood serum of 353 patients with coronary artery disease acute forms who were treated at the Orel regional vascular center from 2019 to 2021, and 50 healthy individuals. A comprehensive analysis included an assessment of clinical, laboratory and instrumental parameters in the framework of current clinical guidelines, as well as an immunological examination to determine the morphogenic proteins of WNT signaling by enzyme immunoassay. The results showed a wide variability in the values of morphogenic proteins of WNT signaling pathway in the patient’s blood serum. The levels of β-catenin, WIF-1 and DVL-1 significantly exceeded those obtained in healthy individuals, while the concentrations of sclerostin and GSK-3β did not differ significantly from them. The level of GSK-3α of patients was twice lower than in healthy individuals. The highest sclerostin concentrations were found in patients with existing calcification of the aortic valve leaflets and aortic walls. Acute coronary syndrome unfavorable course was observed in patients with both extremely high and extremely low WIF-1 levels. Significant correlations were established between the level of morphogenic proteins of WNT signaling pathway and lipid metabolism, as well as myocardial remodeling. The obtained data on changes in the protein production of WNT signaling pathway allow us to expand our understanding of the molecular aspects of the immunopathogenesis of myocardial remodeling in coronary artery disease, increase the predictive potential for cardiovascular disease diagnosis and determine the vector for further development of cardioimmunology determination.