Serum Levels of α-Klotho Are Correlated with Cerebrospinal Fluid Levels and Predict Measures of Cognitive Function

Abstract

Background:

α-klotho might play a role in neurodegenerative diseases.

Objective:

To determine levels of α-klotho and apoE in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples and their relationship with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR).

Methods:

All subjects were between age 39 to 83+ (n = 94). CDR and MMSE were administered to all participants. CSF was collected in the early afternoon by lumbar puncture.

Results:

Serum and CSF levels of α-klotho are positively correlated and both predict scores on the MMSE and CDR, regardless of sex or apoE4 status.

Conclusion:

Our results demonstrate that α-klotho may be an important biomarker of cognitive health and neurodegeneration, and that relatively non-invasive sampling of α-klotho from serum is likely highly reflective of CSF levels.

Keywords

α-klotho apoE cerebrospinal fluid Clinical Dementia Rating Mini-Mental State Examination serum

INTRODUCTION

α-klotho levels are high in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) [1 –3] and related to insulin signaling, cognition, and lifespan in mice [1 , 3–6]. Mouse and human α-klotho share 80% homology [7]. Heterozygote carriers of the KL-VS α-klotho variant have higher α-klotho serum levels [6, 8] and show better global cognition [6].

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) plays a role in cholesterol metabolism. In humans, there are three major isoforms. Compared to apoE3, apoE4 increases and apoE2 decreases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) [9, 10]. Carrying one copy of the KL-VS α-klotho variant predicted better cognitive outcomes [6] and was also associated with a larger right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex volume [11]. In healthy older adults, higher serum α-klotho levels were associated with greater intrinsic connectivity within the fronto-parietal network, the default mode network, and other functional networks vulnerable to AD-related cognitive decline [8]. α-klotho protein levels in the CSF are lower in women than men, lower in older adults with AD than age-matched controls, and decline with age [3]. Homozygous apoE4 carriers have lower brain levels of apoE in the hippocampus, frontal cortex and CSF compared to homozygous apoE3 and apoE2 carriers [12 –14]. High α-klotho levels may especially benefit apoE4 carriers [15, 16].

Recently, we reported a robust positive relationship between α-klotho and apoE levels in the amygdala in irradiated non-human primates [17]. In the present study, we determined human serum and CSF α-klotho and apoE levels to investigate whether serum levels are related to CSF levels and whether either measure is related to cognitive health and whether this depends on apoE4 status.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Subjects

This is a cross-sectional observational study of banked specimens from cerebrospinal fluid donors at a single NIA-funded ADcenter. All subjects with a banked CSF sample, regardless of diagnosis, were included. All subjects for whom we analyzed CSF and serum samples were seen at the Oregon Alzheimer’s Disease Center between age 39 to 83+ (n = 94). Table 1 contains the demographic information of the participants. The data presented represent the clinical evaluation closest in time to sample collection. The dates of the sample collection was between May 30, 1996 and October 6, 2008. Diagnosis of probable AD was made in each case accord of volunteers. The Oregon Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Center enrolls clinic patients and community volunteers in natural history studies and collects a battery of data as prescribed by the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC), including demographic information, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), etc. Diagnosis is made at a consensus conference involving neurologists, psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, and other clinical staff. CSF is collected on a sub-population according to NINDS-ADRDA criteria [20]. Subjects were nonsmokers, in good general health, and free of past or present major psychiatric or neurological disorders (other than AD). Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) and MMSE were administered to all participants as described [20]. CSF was collected in the early afternoon by lumbar puncture, and specimens were kept frozen at –70°C until the assay. APOE genotype was known for all these subjects as part of the Alzheimer’s Disease Center database at OHSU. The experimenter performing the apoE and α-klotho ELISAs was blinded to the APOE genotype and cognitive status until all of the data were analyzed. This study was approved by the Oregon Health and Science University Institutional Review Board (“Layton Aging And Alzheimer’s Disease Center Research Repository Protocol”, IRB #6845). All participants provided written informed consent.

Table 1

A demographic table of participant information

Category	Sub-category	Frequency (N)	Percent (%)
Sex	Female	45	48
	Male	49	52
Years of education	8–12 (High School)	30	32
	13–16 (College)	40	43
	18–21 (Graduate school)	23	25
Race	Caucasian	93	99
	Black	1	1
Age at sample collection	39–49	6	6
	50–60	23	25
	61–71	34	37
	72–82	26	28
	83+	4	4
APOE genotype	E2/E3	5	6
	E2/E4	4	5
	E3/E3	33	39
	E3/E4	33	39
	E4/E4	10	12
Diagnosis at sample collection	Familial AD control - at risk	3	3
	Frontotemporal dementia	1	1
	Mixed dementia	1	1
	Normal - worried well	1	1
	Not demented	40	43
	Other dementia	1	1
	Other disease without dementia	2	2
	Possible Alzheimer’s disease - other complications	6	6
	Probable Alzheimer’s disease	29	31
	Questionable dementia	10	11

Quantification of α-klotho and apoE

Protein levels of α-klotho and apoE were quantified in serum and CSF samples collected from human subjects using commercial ELISA-based quantification assays (IBL America, Minneapolis, MN, USA and MilliporeSigma, Darmstadt, Germany, respectively), according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Briefly, test dilutions were first used to ensure that α-klotho and apoE levels fell within the standard curve range. At the end of the assay, absorbances were read at 450 nm using an ID5reader (Molecular Devices, San Jose, CA). The α-klotho ELISA kit stated an intra-assay CV value of 3.1% and an inter-assay CV value of 2.9%. The apoE ELISA kit stated an intra-assay CV value of less than 10%, and an inter-assay CV value of less than 12%.

Statistical analyses

Pearson’s correlation analyses were used to investigate the relationships between variables. Where appropriate, ANOVA tests were used to investigate differences between groups. Statistical significance was determined using an error probability level of p < 0.05. Where appropriate, Tukey’s post hoc tests were conducted for pairwise comparisons. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics for Windows (Version 25, Armonk, NY: IBM Corp., Chicago, IL, USA), and figures were generated using Graphpad Prism software (San Diego, CA, USA).

RESULTS

CSF and serum α-klotho levels are highly correlated

Serum and CSF protein levels of α-klotho were highly positively correlated (r(92) = 0.572, p < 0.001) (Fig. 1A). This relationship was also seen when males and females were analyzed separately (males: r(47) = 0.479, p = 0.001 (Fig. 1B); females: r(43) = 0.714, p < 0.001 (Fig. 1C).

Fig. 1

A) There was a strong association between α-klotho levels in the serum and the CSF. This was seen in males (B) and females (C).

Levels of α-klotho correlate with cognitive status

Protein levels of α-klotho were strongly positively correlated with MMSE scores in both serum (r(91) = 0.348, p = 0.001) (Fig. 2A) and CSF (r(91) = 0.457, p < 0.001) (Fig. 2B). The relationship between serum α-klotho and MMSE scores was seen in both apoE4 carriers (r(44) = 0.377, p = 0.010) and non-carriers (r(36) = 0.337, p = 0.038) (Fig. 2C). Similarly, there was a relationship between CSF α-klotho and MMSE scores in both apoE4 carriers (r(44) = 0.452, p = 0.002) and non-carriers (r(37) = 0.554, p < 0.001) (Fig. 2D). Of the 93 participants with MMSE scores, 29 participants achieved the maximum score of 30 points. Thus, to ensure that our results were not confounded by the presence of a ceiling effect in the data, another analysis was conducted in which all values corresponding to the maximum MMSE score were excluded. Protein levels of α-klotho in both the serum (r(62) = 0.367, p = 0.003) (Fig. 2E) and CSF, (r(62) = 0.340, p < 0.006) (Fig. 2F) were still strongly positively correlated with MMSE scores.

Fig. 2

α-klotho levels in serum (A) and CSF (B) were strongly positively correlated with MMSE scores. The relationship between serum α-klotho levels and MMSE scores was seen in both apoE4 carriers and non-carriers (C). Similarly, the relationship between CSF α-klotho levels and MMSE scores held in apoE4 carriers and non-carriers (D). When maximum MMSE scores are excluded, α-klotho levels in serum (E) and CSF (F) were still strongly positively correlated with MMSE scores. α-klotho levels in serum (G) and CSF (H) were strongly negatively correlated with clinical dementia rating. This relationship was seen in both apoE4 carriers (I and J).

Protein levels of α-klotho in both serum (r(91) = 0.441, p < 0.001 and CSF (r(91) = –0.600, p < 0.001) were strongly negatively correlated with clinical dementia ratings (Figs. 2G and 2H respectively). This relationship was seen in both apoE4 carriers and non-carriers (Figs. 2I and 2J). In apoE4 carriers, serum (r(44) = –0.488, p = 0.001) and CSF (r(44) = –0.628, p < 0.001) α-klotho levels were negatively correlated with clinical dementia ratings. Similarly, in apoE4 non-carriers, serum (r(36) = –0.426, p = 0.008) and CSF (r(36) = –0.657, p < 0.001) α-klotho were negatively correlated with CDR. In addition to CDR, we also analyzed the sum of boxes score, as previously described [21]. The sum of boxes scores and CDR were highly positively correlated (r(90) = 0.944, p < 0.001).

As expected, MMSE scores and the CDR were strongly negatively correlated (r(91) = –0.843, p < 0.001). Also as expected, years of education predicted MMSE scores (r(90) = 0.260, p = 0.012) and CDR (r(90) = –0.209, p = 0.046).

Sex differences in α-klotho levels and cognitive health

Women had higher serum α-klotho levels of than men (F[1,93] = 9.344, p = 0.003, Fig. 3A). However, there were no sex differences in CSF α-klotho levels (F[1,93] = 2.579, p = 0.112, Fig. 3B). Women had lower clinical dementia ratings than men (F[1,92] = 4.253, p = 0.042, Fig. 3C), and non-significatly higher average MMSE scores than men (F[1,92] = 3.163, p = 0.079, Fig. 3D). Average age at time of study was similar between the sexes, with an average age of 64.86 years for women, and 66.19 years for men.

Fig. 3

Women had higher levels of serum α-klotho levels than men **p = 0.003 (A). However, there were no sex differences in CSF α-klotho levels (B). Women had lower clinical dementia ratings than men, *p = 0.043 (C). and trended towards having higher average MMSE scores than men (D).

Relationship between levels of α-klotho and APOE genotype or age

There was no association between age and levels of α-klotho in either the serum (r(91) = 0.060, p = 0.566) or the CSF (r(91) = 0.073, p = 0.490). This pattern was seen in both males (Fig. 4A) and females (Fig. 4B). There was also no relationship between age and α-klotho levels in any APOE genotype (Fig. 4C, D). A histogram of participant ages is illustrated in Fig. 4E. Additionally, levels of α-klotho did not differ across APOE genotypes in either the serum or the CSF.

Fig. 4

There was no association between age and α-klotho levels in serum or CSF in males (A) or females (B). There was also no relationship between age and α-klotho levels in serum (C) or CSF (D) in any APOE genotype. A histogram of participant ages is illustrated in panel E.

No relationship between apoE levels and levels of α-klotho, or cognitive health

There was no relationship between apoE and α-klotho levels in either the serum (Fig. 5A) or the CSF (Fig. 5B). There was also no relationship between the levels of apoE in either serum or CSF and MMSE scores or clinical dementia ratings. However, there was a trend towards a positive association between CSF apoE levels and MMSE scores (r(89) = 0.192, p = 0.069) (Fig. 5C). There was also a suggestive relationship between APOE genotype and clinical dementia ratings (Fig. 5D). APOE genotypes are listed from left to right in order of least risk to most risk of developing AD. A stairstep pattern is seen in clinical dementia rating, though an ANOVA revealed no significant differences between groups. In a separate analysis, apoE4 carriers and non-carriers were compared via 2-tailed t-test on clinical dementia ratings, which also yielded no significant difference.

Fig. 5

For all variables with the same letter, the difference between the means is not statistically significant. There was no relationship between apoE and α-klotho levels in serum (A) or the CSF (B). There was a trend towards a positive association between CSF apoE levels and MMSE scores (C). There was a suggestive relationship between APOE genotype and clinical dementia ratings, with a stairstep pattern seen in clinical dementia ratings with increasing genetic risk of AD (D). E3/E3 carriers had higher serum apoE levels than E4/E4 carriers (E). *p < 0.05 versus E3/E3. In participants with non-zero clinical dementia ratings, E2/E3 carriers had higher serum apoE levels than E3/E4 (p = 0.046) and E4/E4 carriers (p = 0.033) (F). *p < 0.05 versus E2/E3.

We also investigated whether carriers of different APOE genotypes had different apoE levels in serum or CSF. Given the small number of apoE2 carriers in our data set, we first conducted an ANOVA to compare apoE3 and apoE4 homozygous and heterozygous carriers by excluding the E2/E3 and E2/E4 carriers. E3/E3 carriers had higher serum apoE levels than E4/E4 carriers (F[2,73] = 3.512, p = 0.035, Fig. 5E), but there was no genotype difference in CSF apoE levels.

We next compared apoE4 carriers and apoE4 non-carriers. ApoE4 carriers had lower serum apoE levels than non-carriers (F[1,83] = 7.590, p = 0.007). There was no difference in CSF apoE levels between apoE4 carriers and non-carriers. In a comparison between apoE2 carriers vs. non-carriers, there were no differences in serum or CSF levels of apoE. However, we were limited by only having nine apoE2 carriers in our data set.

Finally, we investigated whether the relationship between APOE genotype and apoE serum or CSF levels was affected by cognitive status. We separately analyzed participants with a clinical dementia rating of 0 from those with a non-zero rating, including all APOE genotypes. In participants with a clinical dementia rating of zero (40 participants), there was no relationship between serum apoE levels and APOE genotype. However, in participants with non-zero ratings (44 participants), there was a significant relationship (F[3,40] = 4.152, p = 0.012). E2/E3 carriers had higher serum apoE levels than E3/E4 (p = 0.046) and E4/E4 (p = 0.033) carriers (Fig. 5F). There was no relationship between APOE genotype and CSF apoE levels in either of the cognitive status groups.

α-klotho VS (KL-VS) haplotype

Of the 94 total participants, data about the α-klotho VS (KL-VS) haplotype was present for 52 participants. Of those 52 participants, 44 carried no copies of the KL-VS haplotype, 7 carried one copy, and only one participant carried two copies. Due to a very limited number of KL-VS carriers in our sample, we could not confirm the previously reported finding that serum α-klotho levels are highest in those carrying one copy of the KL-VS. However, we found that both serum and CSF klotho levels vary robustly within those carrying no copies or one copy of the KL-VS haplotype. Serum values ranged from 0.34 ng/ml to 4.33 ng/ml in those carrying no copies of the KL-VS haplotype. In the seven participants carrying one copy of the KL-VS haplotype, serum values of α-klotho ranged from 0.34 ng/ml to 1.88 ng/ml. In our sample, albeit limited in heterozygote KL-VS carriers, the distributions in α-klotho levels in serum completely overlap. A 2-tailed t-test revealed no significant difference in serum or CSF α-klotho levels between those carrying 0 or 1 copies of the KL-VS haplotype. This finding highlights the importance of measuring α-klotho levels directly rather than relying on KL-VS haplotype status only.

DISCUSSION

The α-klotho levels we observed in the present study in the serum and CSF of human participants were similar to those reported previously [3 , 22]. The α-klotho levels in the CSF and serum were highly correlated, indicating that serum α-klotho levels may be sufficient to infer CSF α-klotho levels when CSF is not available or is too invasive to collect. Higher α-klotho levels in the CSF and serum were associated with cognitive benefits for all APOE genotypes, not just apoE4 carriers. This result is consistent with a previous study that showed a benefit of high α-klotho levels on cognitive outcomes regardless of apoE4 status [3, 6]. However, other studies showed only a benefit for apoE4 carriers [16]. There was an association between higher α-klotho levels and higher scores on the MMSE as well as lower CDR. This result is consistent with a previous study showing that higher CSF α-klotho levels are associated with higher MMSE scores both in cognitively healthy older adults and adults with AD [3]. However, there was a large amount of variability in both cognitive measures for a given α-klotho level. For example, participants carrying apoE4 with CSF α-klotho levels less than 1 ng/ml had MMSE scores ranging from 6 to 29. This indicates that there are large sources of α-klotho-independent variability in MMSE scores in apoE4-carrying individuals. This variance could affect whether a greater benefit of high α-klotho levels is seen in apoE4 carriers compared to non-carriers in a given study. A recent review of older adults indicated not only differential benefit of α-klotho in apoE4 carriers vs. non-carriers, but also that the age at which α-klotho levels begin to provide cognitive benefit in apoE4 carriers is around 77 [16]. That result was not found in the present study. At all ages, individuals in the top half of CSF α-klotho levels had higher MMSE scores than those in the bottom half, both in apoE4 carriers and non-carriers. Thus, within the age range of the current study, higher α-klotho levels are associated with cognitive benefit at all ages and that this benefit is not limited to being an apoE4 carrier.

Women had better cognitive health than men in the present study, with significantly lower clinical dementia ratings and marginally higher scores on the MMSE. This result is consistent with previous studies suggesting a greater resilience to age-related cognitive decline in women than men on many cognitive measures in cognitively healthy adults [23]. Remarkably, women had higher serum, but not CSF, levels of α-klotho than men, suggesting that the higher serum α-klotho levels in women might contribute to their greater resilience. In contrast to the results of the current study, women had lower α-klotho CSF levels than men in a previous study [3], and in another study, there were no sex differences in serum α-klotho levels [22]. Individual variability in soluble α-klotho levels is large. Therefore, the inconsistent sex differences in CSF and serum α-klotho levels across studies might be due to the large individual variability in these measures and other genetic or environmental factors. For example, women are at greater risk for developing AD than men and suffer greater cognitive decline than men at the same stage of the disease [24]. Sex differences in cognitive trajectories might depend on a variety of factors, including whether the individual is undergoing healthy or pathological age-related cognitive decline.

Contrary to previous findings, we did not find a decline in serum or CSF α-klotho levels with age [3, 25]. This might be due to the distribution of ages in the present study. α-klotho levels are highest in children and begin to decline in middle age, though with large inter-individual variability [22]. The mean age of our sample was 66. Therefore, an age-related decline in α-klotho levels might have been observed if the sample contained more individuals at younger ages.

We found no differences in serum or CSF α-klotho levels across APOE genotypes or between apoE4 carriers versus non-carriers. We also found no association between protein levels of apoE and α-klotho in either serum or CSF. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to investigate this question by measuring α-klotho levels directly rather than using KL-VS haplotype as a proxy for α-klotho protein levels. Some previous research showed that α-klotho, Aβ burden, and apoE4-driven cognitive decline do not interact significantly [26], though the literature on this is mixed [16].

The mechanisms by which α-klotho offers cognitive benefit are not fully clear. Addition of klotho to neurons is beneficial via an anti oxidative mechanism [27]; Klotho enhanced the expression of the thioredoxin/peroxiredoxin (Trx/Prx) system, especially of Prx-2, an antioxidant enzyme. Klotho-induced phosphorylation of the PI3K/Akt pathway, a pathway important in apoptosis and longevity, was associated with sustained inhibitory phosphorylation of the transcription factor forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a) and essential for the induction of Prx-2. Klotho can also induce the differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor to mature oligos [28] and was shown to be neuroprotective and anti inflammatory in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mouse model [29].

Low serum α-klotho levels are an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in older adults, indicating it may have a role in overall health [30]. α-klotho also seems to have direct effects within the brain. In transgenic mice that overexpress α-klotho, total protein levels of the NMDAR subunit GluN2B are increased through post-transcriptional mechanisms [6]. This increase is associated with an improvement in spatial learning and memory in the Morris water maze [6].

There was no correlation between protein levels of apoE in the serum and CSF. Protein levels of apoE in the serum or CSF did not significantly correlate with MMSE scores or clinical dementia ratings. However, there was a trend towards a positive association between CSF apoE levels and MMSE scores. Whether higher apoE levels in the serum or CSF are associated with healthier brain outcomes is still being elucidated. In some studies, higher CSF levels of apoE are associated with neurodegeneration [31 –35], while in other studies, the opposite pattern is seen [36 –38]. In one study, higher CSF apoE levels were beneficial in apoE4 non-carriers, but the opposite pattern was seen in apoE4 carriers [39].

The serum levels of apoE were higher in E3/E3 than E4/E4 carriers, but there was no difference in the CSF apoE levels between these two genotypes. Similarly, apoE4 carriers had lower serum apoE levels than non-carriers, but there were no differences in CSF apoE levels. Some studies showed that carrying apoE3 is associated with higher serum and CSF levels of apoE than carrying apoE4 in both cognitively healthy controls and those with AD [40, 41]. The APOE genotype was found to explain 24% of the variability in plasma apoE levels and 12% of the variability in CSF apoE levels [40]. Our data partially support this finding, showing a relationship in serum, but not CSF, levels of apoE with APOE genotype. A larger sample size might have revealed a small effect of APOE genotype on CSF APOE levels. When we included all available apoE genotypes in our data, including the small number of apoE2 carriers, serum apoE levels were related to APOE genotype in participants with a non-zero clinical dementia rating, but not in cognitively healthy participants. In participnts with non-zero clinical dementia ratings, E2/E3 carriers had higher serum apoE levels than E3/E4 and E4/E4. This indicates that cognitive status may be an important factor for the relationship between apoE levels, APOE genotype, and brain health.

One significant strength of the present study is that we measured α-klotho levels directly instead of inferring them based on haplotypes. Our results indicate that KL-VS haplotype may not be an adequate proxy measurement for α-klotho levels in serum or CSF, given the large variability in α-klotho levels within each haplotype group. Recent studies showing no association between KL-VS status and cognitive health in older adults might be explained by the highly variable levels of α-klotho within a haplotype group [42]. Limitations in the present study include the ceiling effects in the MMSE scores of some study participants, the relative low number of E4/E4 study participants, and a survival bias.

In conclusion, serum and CSF α-klotho levels are highly correlated. Both are strongly associated with higher MMSE scores and lower clinical dementia ratings, supporting a protective cognitive role for α-klotho and allowing inference of CSF levels from serum levels in future studies. Women showed higher serum α-klotho levels than males. Within the age range studied, α-klotho levels did not decline. Finally, apoE levels did not correlate with α-klotho levels in serum or CSF. Still, there was a trend towards a positive association between CSF apoE levels and MMSE scores, indicating a possible protective role of higher CSF apoE protein levels. Future studies are warranted involving a wider range of participant ages to more fully investigate serum and CSF changes in α-klotho levels over the lifespan.

Footnotes

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Dr. Carmela Abraham for valuable advice regarding the α-klotho analyses.

The current study was partially supported by NIA T32 AG055378 (PK), a Beckman Postdoctoral Fellowship with funding provided by the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, and a Burroughs Welcome Fund Collaborative Research Travel Grant (1018797) (BZ), NIH RF1 AG059088, R21 AG065914 (JR), and a grant to the OHSU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (NIH P30-AG066518; P30-AG008017) (JK).

Authors’ disclosures available online ().

The supplementary material is available in the electronic version of this article: .

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