Identification of DKK-1 as a novel mediator of statin effects in human endothelial cells

Sci Rep. 2018 Nov 12;8(1):16671. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-35119-7.

Abstract

This study shows that DKK-1, a member of the Dickkopf family and a regulator of the Wnt pathways, represents a novel target of statins which, through the inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase and of non-steroidal isoprenoid intermediates, exert extra-beneficial effect in preventing atherosclerosis beyond their effect on the lipid profile. We found that atorvastatin downregulates DKK-1 protein (-88.3 ± 4.1%) and mRNA expression (-90 ± 4.2%) through the inhibition of Cdc42, Rho and Rac geranylgeranylated proteins. Further, a combined approach based on the integration of label-free quantitative mass spectrometry based-proteomics and gene silencing allowed us to demonstrate that DKK-1 itself mediates, at least in part, statin effects on human endothelial cells. Indeed, DKK-1 is responsible for the regulation of the 21% of the statin-modulated proteins, which include, among others, clusterin/apoJ, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS), and pentraxin 3 (PTX3). The Gene Ontology enrichment annotation revealed that DKK-1 is also a potential mediator of the extracellular matrix organization, platelet activation and response to wounding processes induced by statin. Finally, we found that plasma level of DKK-1 from cholesterol-fed rabbits treated with atorvastatin (2.5 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks) was lower (-42 ± 23%) than that of control animals. Thus, DKK-1 is not only a target of statin but it directly regulates the expression of molecules involved in a plethora of biological functions, thus expanding its role, which has been so far restricted mainly to cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Atorvastatin / pharmacology
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Cholesterol / pharmacology
  • Gene Ontology
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Myristoylated Alanine-Rich C Kinase Substrate / metabolism
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / metabolism
  • Platelet Activation / drug effects
  • Prenylation / drug effects
  • Proteomics
  • Rabbits
  • Serum Amyloid P-Component / metabolism

Substances

  • DKK1 protein, human
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1
  • Serum Amyloid P-Component
  • Myristoylated Alanine-Rich C Kinase Substrate
  • PTX3 protein
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Cholesterol
  • Atorvastatin