Importance of the field: Wnt signalling plays a role in maintaining healthy bone mass. Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) is a soluble inhibitor of Wnt signalling and its excessive expression contributes to bone loss in rheumatoid arthritis and multiple myeloma. New therapeutics have been developed for treatment of these conditions that target DKK-1 expression. DKK-1 is elevated in serum of patients with Paget's disease of the bone (PDB) and evidence is accumulating for a role of DKK-1 in PDB.
Areas covered in this review: The role of Wnt signalling and DKK-1 in bone health and disease and the aetiology of PDB in the light of recent advances in understanding of Wnt signalling.
What the reader will gain: PDB is a disorder of unknown aetiology characterised by localised increase in unregulated bone remodelling resulting in osteolytic and osteosclerotic lesions. Evidence is adduced for the involvement of Wnt signalling, DKK-1 and osteoblasts in PDB pathogenesis.
Take home message: At present there is no cure for PDB and the current treatment of choice are bisphosphonates. These treat the resorptive phase of PDB but do not prevent its return. We present a new perspective on the aetiology of PDB and speculate on DKK-1 as a therapeutic target.