α-Klotho is an acute phase protein and altered by restraint stress in mice

To identify whether α-Klotho is a kind of acute phase protein and alternation in the level of protein and mRNA under restraint stress.

48 mice were divided into three groups of 16: 1h, 10h and 20 h treat time group. Each group included restraint stress and control subgroup with same number animals (n = 8). ELISA was utilized in the assay of serum α-Klotho and corticosterone, RT-PCR was occupied in the detection of the expression of α-Klotho mRNA in renal tissue.

α-Klotho protein concentration of control group 1h, 10h and 20 h was 757.71 ± 333.93 pg/ml, 687.38 ± 342.79 pg/ml and 912.90 ± 337.8 pg/ml, respectively. While the concentration of restraint stress group 1h, 10h and 20 h was 726.40 ± 342.79 pg/ml, 1261.54 ± 442.71 pg/ml, and 1696.18 ± 404.11 pg/ml. There was no significant difference among 1h, 10h and 20 h control groups (P > 0.05) as well as 1h treat time subgroup. Compared with respective control group, the difference of restraint stress group in 10h and 20 h treat time group was significant (P < 0.05). The expression of α-Klotho mRNA was slightly downregulated even when the mice underwent a 1 hour restraint stress, though without significance (p > 0.05). Prominent fold change, 2.02 and 2.46, happened in 10h and 20 h restraint group with significance (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01), respectively.

α-Klotho is a kind of acute phase protein. The serum α-Klotho protein is promoted while the α-Klotho mRNA is downregulated under the constraint stress.