Reduced Levels of the Antiaging Hormone Klotho are Associated With Increased Aortic Stiffness in Diabetic Kidney Disease

Introduction Aortic pulse wave velocity (Ao-PWV) predicts cardiovascular and kidney disease in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Klotho is a circulating antiaging hormone (sKlotho) with putative cardiorenal protective effects. The relationship between sKlotho and Ao-PWV in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is unknown. Methods In a cross-sectional cohort study, the correlation of sKlotho measured by a validated immunoassay, and Ao-PWV measured by applanation tonometry, was investigated in 172 participants with T2D and early stage DKD (all had estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] >45 ml/min) on stable renin angiotensin system (RAS) inhibition. In cultured human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) stimulated with angiotensin II (AngII), the effects of recombinant human sKlotho pretreatment were assessed on intracellular calcium ([Ca 2+ ] i ) responses and expression of proteins associated with proosteogenic HASMC phenotypes. Results Mean (range) age of the cohort was 61.3 years (40–82) and 65% were male. Mean (±SD) Ao-PWV was 11.4 (±2.3) m/s, eGFR 78.8 (±23.5) and median (interquartile range) sKlotho of 358.5 (194.2–706.3) pg/ml. In multivariable linear regression analyses, we observed a statistically significant inverse relationship between sKlotho and Ao-PWV, which was independent of clinical risk factors for cardiorenal disease. Pretreatment of cultured HASMC with sKlotho significantly attenuated AngII-stimulated [Ca 2+ ] i transients and reduced osteogenic collagen (Col1a2) expression. Conclusions In individuals with T2D and early DKD, lower levels of sKlotho are associated with increased Ao-PWV. Taken together with the direct effect of sKlotho on mediators of aortic wall stiffness in vitro , these findings may explain the enhanced risk of cardiorenal disease in DKD.