Dickkopf WNT signaling pathway inhibitor 3 (DKK3)

Dickkopf WNT signaling pathway inhibitor 3 (DKK3, also known as Reduced Expression in Immortalized Cells or REIC) is a secreted glycoprotein belonging to the Dickkopf family. It contains two cysteine-rich domains and plays an important role in embryonic development by modulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In normal tissues, it helps regulate cellular differentiation and tissue homeostasis. Its expression is frequently reduced or lost in many human cancers, where it acts as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis. In cardiovascular disease models, DKK3 has been shown to promote smooth muscle cell differentiation and stabilize atherosclerotic plaques. Therapeutically, recombinant adenoviral vectors expressing REIC/Dkk‑3 are under investigation for cancer treatment due to their ability to induce tumor-selective apoptosis and immune activation. There are currently no approved drugs that directly target DKK3 itself; most therapeutic strategies focus on restoring its function via gene therapy approaches.

Other names

Dickkopf-related protein 3REIC (Reduced Expression in Immortalized Cells)REIC/Dkk-3Dkk-3

null (therapeutic approaches involve gene therapy or modulation rather than small-molecule inhibition/activation)