Fig. 1.
Wnt maintains cellular integrity in endothelial cells and potentially fosters a novel capacity to block thrombosis and microglial activation. Wnt functions through activation of its receptor Frizzled resulting in the inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), which induces mitochondrial (Mito) membrane depolarization followed by cytochrome c (Cyto c) release and prevents the activity of β-catenin. Without Wnt, GSK-3β can activate caspases and subsequently leads membrane phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure, resulting in the induction of thrombosis in vascular system and PS receptor (PSR) expression on microglia with microglial activation.