LRP6 and carotid atherosclerosis: LRP6 genetic variants that impair Wnt/β-catenin signaling have been reported that are associated with increased risk of carotid atherosclerosis [82] and early CAD [66] in humans, suggesting that decreased canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling may be pro-atherogenic; conversely, by this reasoning, increased Wnt signaling would be expected to have protective, pro-regressive effects.