Klotho reduces apoptosis in experimental ischaemic acute kidney injury via HSP-70

High Klotho expression has been detected in the kidney, and since the results of a recent study suggested that Klotho induction mitigates ischaemic damage in the kidney, in the present study we explored the mechanism by which Klotho expression reduces renal ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI).

Male mice were subjected to bilateral renal ischaemia for 30 min and reperfusion for 24 h, or to a sham operation. Both the IRI group and the sham group were intravenously injected with an adenovirus harbouring the mouse Klotho gene (ad-kl) before renal IRI. In addition, mIMCD3 cells induced to overexpress Klotho by transferring the Klotho gene with ad-kl were analysed by DNA microarray and real-time PCR. Renal expression of Klotho and several genes selected by DNA microarray were assessed by real-time PCR or Western blotting, and TUNEL staining was performed to assess apoptosis.

Prior administration of ad-kl to the mice resulted in robust induction of Klotho mRNA in the kidney and liver. Ad-kl transfer improved the plasma creatinine values and mitigated the histological damage and apoptosis induced by IRI. Expression of several genes was altered in mIMCD3 cells as a result of the change in Klotho expression, and expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), in particular, was up-regulated in ad-kl mouse kidneys and HK2 cells.

The results suggest that Klotho is involved in the pathophysiology of IRI. Klotho mitigates apoptosis in experimental ischaemic acute kidney injury via expression of HSP70.