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Year: 2009 | Volume: 2 | Issue: 6 | Page No.: 583 - 590
M Ohnishi, T Nakatani, B Lanske and M. S. Razzaque
Abstract
Background— Klotho-knockout mice (klotho–/–) have increased renal expression of sodium/phosphate cotransporters (NaPi2a), associated with severe hyperphosphatemia. Such serum biochemical changes in klotho–/– mice lead to extensive soft-tissue anomalies and vascular calcification. To determine the significance of increased renal expression of the NaPi2a protein and concomitant hyperphosphatemia and vascular calcification in klotho–/– mice, we generated klotho and NaPi2a double-knockout (klotho–/–/NaPi2a–/–) mice.
Methods and Results— Genetic inactivation of NaPi2a activity from klotho–/– mice reversed the severe hyperphosphatemia to mild hypophosphatemia or normophosphatemia. Importantly, despite significantly higher serum calcium and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels in klotho–/–/NaPi2a–/– mice, the vascular and soft-tissue calcifications were reduced. Extensive soft-tissue anomalies and cardiovascular calcification were consistently noted in klotho–/– mice by 6 weeks of age; however, these vascular and soft-tissue abnormalities were absent even in 12-week-old double-knockout mice. Klotho–/–/NaPi2a–/– mice also regained body weight and did not develop the generalized tissue atrophy often noted in klotho–/– single-knockout mice.
Conclusion— Our in vivo genetic manipulation studies have provided compelling evidence for a pathological role of increased NaPi2a activities in regulating abnormal mineral ion metabolism and soft-tissue anomalies in klotho–/– mice. Notably, our results suggest that serum phosphate levels are the important in vivo determinant of calcification and that lowering serum phosphate levels can reduce or eliminate soft-tissue and vascular calcification, even in presence of extremely high serum calcium and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels. These in vivo observations have significant clinical importance and therapeutic implications for patients with chronic kidney disease with cardiovascular calcification.