Elevated circulating alpha-klotho by angiotensin II receptor blocker losartan is associated with reduction of albuminuria in type 2 diabetic patients.

INTRODUCTION: The aging-suppression gene α-klotho is potentially reno-protective. Animal studies suggest that angiotensin II may be a negative regulator of α-klotho expression. Therefore, we hypothesize that renin-angiotensin system antagonism may increase α-klotho secretion in type 2 diabetes (T2DM). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In this post-hoc analysis of a randomized crossover study, 33 T2DM subjects with albuminuria received either 50 mg of losartan or 20 mg of quinapril (both 50% maximal dose) daily for 4 weeks with 4-week wash-out period in between.
RESULTS: Our data showed that losartan, but not quinapril, significantly increased circulating α-klotho level by an average of 23% (from 542 pg/ml to 668 pg/ml, p=0.001). Linear regression revealed that, besides different mode of treatment, increment in plasma α-klotho was associated with decrement in urine albumin/creatinine ratio (β=-0.263, p=0.029).
CONCLUSIONS: The angiotensin receptor blocker losartan increases circulating α-klotho in T2DM with albuminuria. The clinical significance of this rise in α-klotho associated with losartan intervention deserves further investigation.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes