Prospects and Perspectives for WISP1 (CCN4) in Diabetes Mellitus

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) continues to increase throughout the world. In the United States (US) alone, approximately ten percent of the population is diagnosed with DM and another thirty-five percent of the population is considered to have prediabetes. Yet, current treatments for DM are limited and can fail to block the progression of multi-organ failure over time. Wnt1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1 (WISP1), also known as CCN4, is a matricellular protein that offers exceptional promise to address underlying disease progression and develop innovative therapies for DM. WISP1 holds an intricate relationship with other primary pathways of metabolism that include protein kinase B (Akt), mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK), silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) (SIRT1), and mammalian forkhead transcription factors (FoxOs). WISP1 is an exciting prospect to foster vascular as well as neuronal cellular protection and regeneration, control cellular senescence, block oxidative stress injury, and maintain glucose homeostasis. However, under some scenarios WISP1 can promote tumorigenesis, lead to obesity progression with adipocyte hyperplasia, foster fibrotic hepatic disease, and lead to dysregulated inflammation with the progression of DM. Given these considerations, it is imperative to further elucidate the complex relationship WISP1 holds with other vital metabolic pathways to successfully develop WISP1 as a clinically effective target for DM and metabolic disorders.