The mounting prevalence of risk factors such as aging, diabetes, and hypertension, coupled with genetic factors can perturb the cellular and molecular mechanism of the aortic valves leading to calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) and ultimately aortic stenosis. Surgical replacement of the aortic valve remains the only and the last choice for the disease. Over 30,000 aortic valves were replaced in 2009. Patients with severe aortic stenosis who do not receive surgical valve replacement have a mortality rate of 37% at one year after symptom onset. However, replacement valves are susceptible to failure, necessitating additional surgeries. There currently is no effective medical therapy for CAVD due to the unknown etiology of the disease. Therefore, a conceptual breakthrough to develop novel targets and strategies to develop a cure for CAVD is paramount. Klotho is a recently-discovered anti- aging gene and is predominately expressed in kidneys. Klotho is a secreted protein. The level of circulating klotho declines in the aged population while the prevalence of CAVD increases in the aged population. The objective of this application is to determine, in animal models, if klotho deficiency is a causal factor of CAVD and if klotho gene delivery or klotho protein supplement could serve as an effective therapeutic strategy for CAVD. We will accomplish this objective by pursuing the following two complement specific aims. (1) Determine if klotho deficiency causes CAVD and investigate its molecular mechanism. (2) Investigate the hypothesis that in vivo klotho gene or protein delivery will attenuate or reverse CAVD in senescence-accelerated mice. The proposed work is innovative and significant because it utilizes state-of-the-art approaches to address CAVD which affects a large aged population but remains poorly explored. The results will reveal a novel etiological factor for senescence-related CAVD. The proposed research will provide important insights into therapeutic strategies for CAVD.

Public Health Relevance

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the third leading cause of adult heart disease and is the most common form of acquired valvular disease. There is no effective medical therapy for CAVD. Completion of the project may offer a new therapeutic target for CAVD which will benefit the US population which has a high prevalence of CAVD.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL118558-02
Application #
8814275
Study Section
Atherosclerosis and Inflammation of the Cardiovascular System Study Section (AICS)
Program Officer
Evans, Frank
Project Start
2014-03-01
Project End
2018-02-28
Budget Start
2015-03-01
Budget End
2016-02-29
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
878648294
City
Oklahoma City
State
OK
Country
United States
Zip Code
73104
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Chen, Jianglei; Fan, Jun; Wang, Shirley et al. (2018) Secreted Klotho Attenuates Inflammation-Associated Aortic Valve Fibrosis in Senescence-Accelerated Mice P1. Hypertension 71:877-885
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Jung, Dongju; Xu, Yuechi; Sun, Zhongjie (2017) Induction of anti-aging gene klotho with a small chemical compound that demethylates CpG islands. Oncotarget 8:46745-46755
Chen, Peter Gin-Fu; Sun, Zhongjie (2017) AAV Delivery of Endothelin-1 shRNA Attenuates Cold-Induced Hypertension. Hum Gene Ther 28:190-199
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Gao, Diansa; Zuo, Zhong; Tian, Jing et al. (2016) Activation of SIRT1 Attenuates Klotho Deficiency-Induced Arterial Stiffness and Hypertension by Enhancing AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Activity. Hypertension 68:1191-1199

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