Reviewing the Potential for Klotho as a Basis for Therapy

Klotho is one of the few robustly longevity-associated genes discovered over the past few decades. Increased levels of the circulating α-klotho protein slows aging in mice and is associated with better late life health in humans. Additionally, more of this α-klotho appears to slow cognitive aging and also boost cognitive function in younger animals. While klotho is thought to be primarily active in the kidneys, and thus indicates the importance of declining kidney function in degenerative aging, researchers are discovering potentially relevant interactions in the brain. It remains an open question as to how exactly klotho produces its observed benefits, which potential mechanisms are most important, and whether there is more to be discovered yet. This lack of knowledge hasn't prevented the research and development community from working on therapies based on delivery of optimized α-klotho variants. That is a work in progress, however, currently led by Unity Biotechnology and at a comparatively early preclinical stage. Other groups will no doubt join them as the possibilities for klotho-based therapies continue to attract further interest. Such therapies do not have to be limited to delivery of α-klotho as a protein. An increase in the levels of specific circulating proteins is one of the easier, more feasible prospects for gene therapies, as all it requires is delivery of the treatment to a small volume of fat tissue, turning it into a factory for the desired prot...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs