In patients with renal disease, uremia raises oxidative stress and senescence in endothelial cells, which can lead to endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. Klotho protein is a â-glucuronidase capable of hydrolyzing steroid â-glucuronides. This protein is recognized as an antiaging gene, that modulate both stress-induced senescence and functional response. The aim of the study was to investigate how senescence and oxidative stress induced by uremia in endothelial cells affects Klotho expression and whether intra or extracellular Klotho has effects on the response of these cells. Senescence and oxidative stress was obtained by exposure to uremic serum. Telomere length, the enzyme â-galactosidase, and oxidative stress were studied by flow cytometry. Nuclear factor kappa B activity was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The expression of Klotho decreased with the uremia and preceded the manifestations of cell aging. Levels of intracellular Klotho decreases associated to endothelial senescence, and exogenous Klotho prevents cellular senescence by inhibiting the increase in oxidative stress induced by uremia and diminished the nuclear factor kappa B-DNA binding ability.
Aged Cell Line