Klotho-mediated changes in the expression of Atg13 alter formation of ULK1 complex and thus initiation of ER- and Golgi-stress response mediated autophagy

Soluble klotho induces the heat shock factor 1 through EGR1 expression

Klotho is an antiaging protein that has multiple functions. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether soluble klotho plays a role in cellular stress response pathways. We found that klotho deficiency (kl-/-) largely decreased HSF1 levels and impaired heat shock protein expression. Interestingly, recombinant soluble klotho-induced HSF1 and HSPs such as HSP90, HSP70, and HSP27 in kl-/- mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Soluble Klotho treatment also induced cell proliferation and HSF1 promoter activity in MEF kl-/- cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, using point mutagenesis, we identified regulatory/binding sites of transcription factors EGR1 regulated by soluble klotho in the HSF1 promoter. Taken together, our findings unravel the molecular basis of klotho and provide molecular evidence supporting a direct interaction between soluble klotho and HSF1-mediated stress response pathway.

Nanomedicine-driven therapeutic interventions of autophagy and stem cells in the management of Alzheimer's disease

Drug-loaded, brain-targeted nanocarriers could be a promising tool in overcoming the challenges associated with Alzheimer's disease therapy. These nanocargoes are enormously flexible to functionalize and facilitate the delivery of drugs to brain cells by bridging the blood-brain barrier and into brain cells. To date, modifications have included nanoparticles (NPs) coating with tunable surfactants/phospholipids, covalently attaching polyethylene glycol chains (PEGylation), and tethering different targeting ligands to cell-penetrating peptides in a manner that facilitates their entry across the BBB and downregulates various pathological hallmarks as well as intra- and extracellular signaling pathways. This review provides a brief update on drug-loaded, multifunctional nanocarriers and the therapeutic intervention of autophagy and stem cells in the management of Alzheimer's disease.

Klotho an Autophagy Stimulator as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Alzheimer’s Disease: A Review

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-associated neurodegenerative disease; it is the most common cause of senile dementia. Klotho, a single-pass transmembrane protein primarily generated in the brain and kidney, is active in a variety of metabolic pathways involved in controlling neurodegeneration and ageing. Recently, many studies have found that the upregulation of Klotho can improve pathological cognitive deficits in an AD mice model and have demonstrated that Klotho plays a role in the induction of autophagy, a major contributing factor for AD. Despite the close association between Klotho and neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD, the underlying mechanism by which Klotho contributes to AD remains poorly understood. In this paper, we will introduce the expression, location and structure of Klotho and its biological functions. Specifically, this review is devoted to the correlation of Klotho protein and the AD phenotype, such as the effect of Klotho in upregulating the amyloid-beta clearance and in inducing autophagy for the clearance of toxic proteins, by regulating the autophagy lysosomal pathway (ALP). In summary, the results of multiple studies point out that targeting Klotho would be a potential therapeutic strategy in AD treatment.

Actions of Klotho on hippocampal neuronal cells

Klotho gene was originally recognized as a putative aging-suppressor and its prominent age-regulating effects are mostly attributed to the modulation of mineral homeostasis in the kidney. However, recent studies link alterations in hippocampal Klotho expression with cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases. This suggests that hippocampal neurons require Klotho for health and proper functionality. Klotho protects against neuronal dysfunction and regulates several intracellular signaling pathways including oxidative stress response, inflammation, DNA damage, autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum stress response, and multiple types of cell death. Specifically, this chapter covers the current knowledge as to how Klotho protein affects the hippocampal neuronal cells, with special attention paid to underlying molecular mechanisms, and thus influences hippocampal development, hippocampal-dependent cognition, behavior, and motor skills as well as mediates neurodegenerative processes.

Epigenetic and non-epigenetic regulation of Klotho in kidney disease

Klotho is a novel renoprotective anti-aging protein available in membrane-bound or soluble form. Klotho is expressed in brain, pancreas, and other solid organs but shows highest expression levels in the kidney. Klotho sustains normal kidney physiology but Klotho regulation also contributes to the progression of kidney disease. Systemic and intrarenal levels of Klotho fall drastically during acute kidney injury, kidney fibrosis, diabetic nephropathy, and other forms of chronic kidney disease, etc. Moreover, exogenous supplementation or overexpression of endogenous Klotho attenuates kidney disease. The regulation of endogenous Klotho expression involves epigenetic as well as non-epigenetic mechanisms. The epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, post-translational histone modifications, miRNAs regulate the change in Klotho expression in kidney disease. Non-epigenetic mechanisms such as ER stress, Wnt signaling, activation of the renin angiotensin system (RAS), excessive reactive oxygen species and cytokine generation, albumin overload, and PPAR-γ signaling also contribute to Klotho regulation. Evolving evidence highlight the capacity of natural products to regulate Klotho expression in kidney disease. All these preclinical data suggest that Klotho could be a novel biomarker as well as therapeutic target. Here we review the different mechanisms of Klotho regulation in the context of Klotho as a biomarker and potential therapeutic agent.

Golgi Apparatus: A Potential Therapeutic Target for Autophagy-Associated Neurological Diseases

Autophagy has dual effects in human diseases: appropriate autophagy may protect cells from stress, while excessive autophagy may cause cell death. Additionally, close interactions exist between autophagy and the Golgi. This review outlines recent advances regarding the role of the Golgi apparatus in autophagy. The signaling processes of autophagy are dependent on the normal function of the Golgi. Specifically, (i) autophagy-related protein 9 is mainly located in the Golgi and forms new autophagosomes in response to stressors; (ii) Golgi fragmentation is induced by Golgi-related proteins and accompanied with autophagy induction; and (iii) the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment and the reticular trans-Golgi network play essential roles in autophagosome formation to provide a template for lipidation of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 and induce further ubiquitination. Golgi-related proteins regulate formation of autophagosomes, and disrupted formation of autophagy can influence Golgi function. Notably, aberrant autophagy has been demonstrated to be implicated in neurological diseases. Thus, targeted therapies aimed at protecting the Golgi or regulating Golgi proteins might prevent or ameliorate autophagy-related neurological diseases. Further studies are needed to investigate the potential application of Golgi therapy in autophagy-based neurological diseases.

Focus on the Role of Klotho Protein in Neuro-Immune Interactions in HT-22 Cells Upon LPS Stimulation

Neuroinflammation is defined as the activation of the brain's innate immune system in response to an inflammatory challenge and is considered to be a prominent feature of neurodegenerative diseases. The contribution of overactivated neuroglial cells to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative disorders is well documented, however, the role of hippocampal neurons in the neuroinflammatory process remains fragmentary. In this study, we show for the first time, that klotho acts as a signal transducer between pro-survival and pro-apoptotic crosstalk mediated by ER stress in HT-22 hippocampal neuronal cells during LPS challenge. In control HT-22 cells, LPS treatment results in activation of the IRE1α-p38 MAPK pathway leading to increased secretion of anti-inflammatory IL-10, and thus, providing adaptation mechanism. On the other hand, in klotho-deficient HT-22 cells, LPS induces oxi-nitrosative stress and genomic instability associated with telomere dysfunctions leading to p53/p21-mediated cell cycle arrest and, in consequence, to ER stress, inflammation as well as of apoptotic cell death. Therefore, these results indicate that klotho serves as a part of the cellular defense mechanism engaged in the protection of neuronal cells against LPS-mediated neuroinflammation, emerging issues linked with neurodegenerative disorders.

Towards Age-Related Anti-Inflammatory Therapy: Klotho Suppresses Activation of ER and Golgi Stress Response in Senescent Monocytes

Immunosenescence in monocytes has been shown to be associated with several biochemical and functional changes, including development of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which may be inhibited by klotho protein. To date, it was believed that SASP activation is associated with accumulating DNA damage. However, some literature data suggest that endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi stress pathways may be involved in SASP development. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of klotho protein in the regulation of immunosenescence-associated Golgi apparatus and ER stress response induced by bacterial antigens in monocytes. We provide evidence that initiation of immunosenescent-like phenotype in monocytes is accompanied by activation of CREB34L and TFE3 Golgi stress response and ATF6 and IRE1 endoplasmic reticulum stress response, while klotho overexpression prevents these changes. Further, these changes are followed by upregulated secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, which final modification takes place exclusively in the Golgi apparatus. In conclusion, we provide for the first time evidence of klotho involvement in the crosstalk on the line ER-Golgi, which may, in turn, affect activation of SASP. This data may be useful for a novel potential target for therapy in age-related and chronic inflammatory conditions.