Gliomas are the most common and lethal forms of malignant brain tumors. We attempted to identify the role of the aging-suppressor Klotho gene and Klotho protein in the immunopathogenesis of gliomas. We examined Klotho genetic variants by PCR-RFLP and measured serum Klotho levels using the ELISA method. We found a statistically significantly increased frequency of rs1207568A allele and rs1207568 GA genotypes in co-dominant, dominant and over-dominant models in grade IV as compared to grade II and III glioma patients. The levels of soluble α Klotho (sαKL) were significantly lower in grade III and IV glioma patients than in healthy controls (p = 0.034; 0.0083). Patients with sαKL levels above 2500 pg/mL survived significantly longer than patients with sαKL below 2500 pg/mL (p = 0.038). We also found a positive correlation of the serum levels of sαKL with seven biomarkers, like angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor (p = 0.0008), chemokine fractalkine (p = 0.0009), interferon γ (p = 0.003), glial derived neurotrophic factor (p = 0.0268), pro-inflammatory and pro-Th1 cytokine IL-6 (p = 0.0347), anti-inflammatory, pro-Th2 cytokines IL-4 (p = 0.0037) and IL-13 (p = 0.0004). Our results suggest the impact of Klotho genetic variants and Klotho levels on advanced-grade glioma.

Clinic for Children and Adolescents Faculty Hospital Nitra 950 01 Nitra Slovakia

Cytopathos Ltd 831 03 Bratislava Slovakia

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty of Medicine Comenius University and University Hospital 833 05 Bratislava Slovakia

Institute of Immunology Faculty of Medicine Comenius University Bratislava 813 72 Bratislava Slovakia

Sikl's Department of Pathology Faculty of Medicine and Faculty Hospital in Pilsen Charles University 306 05 Pilsen Czech Republic

Unilabs Ltd 841 01 Bratislava Slovakia

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