Presentation description

Klotho, an "anti-aging" protein that is primarily produced by the kidneys, significantly impacts health. Genetic deletion of Klotho results in an aging phenotype that includes vascular calcification, cardiac hypertrophy, and chronic kidney disease (CKD), conditions that are mitigated when Klotho expression is restored in these animals. Prior studies have shown that raising urine pH promotes cleavage of membrane-bound Klotho in the kidney with subsequent release into the systemic circulation. This suggests a tight link between urine pH and serum Klotho levels. This study aims to determine the association between serum Klotho levels and urine pH in humans. We measured urine pH in 103 US veterans with diabetes and/or hypertension with no history of CKD. Mean (SD) values were the following: age 69 (12) years, male 98 (90%), non-Hispanic White 94 (90%), diabetes 49 (47%), hypertension 96 (92%), and urine pH 6.1 (0.7). Serum Klotho levels will be determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Linear regression models, adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, hemoglobin A1c, and systolic blood pressure will determine the association between urine pH and serum Klotho levels. We expect that urine pH will be positively associated with serum Klotho levels. Such findings would strengthen the case to investigate whether increasing urine pH, for example, with sodium bicarbonate, increases serum Klotho levels and whether this intervention might mitigate diseases associated with low serum Klotho.