Klotho is highly expressed in the chief sites of regulated potassium secretion, and it is stimulated by potassium intake

Abstract

Klotho regulates many pathways in the aging process, but it remains unclear how it is physiologically regulated. Because Klotho is synthesized, cleaved, and released from the kidney; activates the chief urinary K⁺ secretion channel (ROMK) and stimulates urinary K⁺ secretion, we explored if Klotho protein is regulated by dietary K⁺ and the potassium-regulatory hormone, Aldosterone. Klotho protein along the nephron was evaluated in humans and in wild-type (WT) mice; and in mice lacking components of Aldosterone signaling, including the Aldosterone-Synthase KO (AS-KO) and the Mineralocorticoid-Receptor KO (MR-KO) mice. We found the specific cells of the distal nephron in humans and mice that are chief sites of regulated K⁺ secretion have the highest Klotho protein expression along the nephron. WT mice fed K⁺-rich diets increased Klotho expression in these cells. AS-KO mice exhibit normal Klotho under basal conditions but could not upregulate Klotho in response to high-K⁺ intake in the K⁺-secreting cells. Similarly, MR-KO mice exhibit decreased Klotho protein expression. Together, i) Klotho is highly expressed in the key sites of regulated K⁺ secretion in humans and mice, ii) In mice, K⁺-rich diets increase Klotho expression specifically in the potassium secretory cells of the distal nephron, iii) Aldosterone signaling is required for Klotho response to high K⁺ intake.