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Excessively high soluble Klotho in patients with acromegaly
L Sze1, R L Bernays, C Zwimpfer
1From the Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland. lisa.sze@kssg.ch
Journal of Internal Medicine
|March 29, 2012
Summary
Patients with acromegaly have significantly elevated soluble Klotho levels, which are linked to excess growth hormone (GH). Surgical removal of the pituitary tumor normalized these Klotho levels, indicating a direct relationship.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Klotho deficiency in mice causes accelerated aging.
- Human Klotho gene variants are associated with aging.
- Soluble Klotho levels decline with age and chronic kidney disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between excess growth hormone (GH) and serum Klotho levels in acromegaly patients.
- To explore the impact of GH-producing pituitary adenomas on Klotho concentration.
Main Methods:
- Serum levels of soluble Klotho, GH, and IGF-1 were measured in 24 acromegaly patients.
- Measurements were taken before and after transsphenoidal surgery to remove pituitary adenomas.
Main Results:
- Preoperative soluble Klotho levels were markedly elevated and correlated with GH, IGF-1, and tumor size.
- Post-surgery, GH and IGF-1 levels decreased significantly, and soluble Klotho returned to normal ranges.
- Multiple regression analysis confirmed soluble Klotho's association with GH, independent of age, gender, creatinine, and phosphate.
Conclusions:
- This study demonstrates, for the first time, significantly increased soluble Klotho levels in acromegaly.
- The normalization of Klotho levels after tumor removal suggests a causal link between GH-producing adenomas and elevated serum Klotho.
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