Background: Diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) is a prevalent complication in the diabetic population and a major cause of hospitalizations. Diverse clinical studies have related alterations in the system formed by fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23 and Klotho (KL) with vascular damage. In this proof-of-concept study, we hypothesize that the levels of FGF23 and Klotho are altered in DFS patients.
Methods: Twenty patients with limb amputation due to DFS, 37 diabetic patients without DFS, and 12 non-diabetic cadaveric organ donors were included in the study. Serum FGF23/Klotho and inflammatory markers were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Protein and gene expression levels in the vascular samples were determined by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time PCR, respectively.
Results: Serum Klotho is significantly reduced and FGF23 is significantly increased in patients with DFS (p < 0.01). Vascular immunoreactivity and gene expression levels for Klotho were decreased in patients with DFS (p < 0.01). Soluble Klotho was inversely related to serum C-reactive protein (r = -0.30, p < 0.05). Vascular immunoreactivities for Klotho and IL6 showed an inverse association (r = -0.29, p < 0.04). Similarly, vascular gene expression of KL and IL6 were inversely associated (r = -0.31, p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that higher Klotho serum concentrations and vascular gene expression levels were related to a lower risk of DFS, while higher serum FGF23 was associated with a higher risk for this complication.
Conclusion: FGF23/Klotho system is associated with DFS, pointing to a new pathophysiological pathway involved in the development and progression of this complication.
Keywords: Klotho; diabetic foot syndrome; fibroblast growth factor 23; inflammation; vascular disease.