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,1
* Department of Developmental Biology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
Department of Pathology, Nagasaki University School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan; and
Department of Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
1Correspondence: Department of Developmental Biology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Rm.: 304, 188 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA. E-mail: mrazzaque{at}hms.harvard.edu or razzaquems{at}yahoo.com
| ABSTRACT |
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Key Words: kidney vitamin D PTH NaPi2a calcification survival
| INTRODUCTION |
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Regulation of phosphate homeostasis is a complex hormonal process that involves multiple organs, including the intestines, bone, parathyroid glands, and kidneys. Kidneys play an important role in maintaining phosphate balance by fine-tuning urinary excretion of phosphate, according to the needs of the body (1)
. Most chronic renal diseases, without therapeutic intervention, usually progress to irreversible renal failure (4
5
6)
, which affects water, electrolyte, and mineral balances.
Fibroblast growth factor 23 (Fgf23) is a master regulator of renal phosphate handling. Human studies have shown that an increased serum level of FGF23 is associated with renal phosphate wasting diseases (7)
, while reduced FGF23 activity leads to increased serum accumulation of phosphate due to reduced urinary excretion of phosphate (8)
. In a similar line of animal studies, transgenic mice overexpressing Fgf23 showed rickets and osteomalacia due to excessive urinary phosphate wasting (9)
. In contrast, genomic ablation of Fgf23 from mice resulted in severe hyperphosphatemia due to decreased urinary excretion of phosphate (10
11
12)
.
Our understanding of Fgf23-mediated regulation of phosphate homeostasis has been significantly enhanced by the identification of klotho as a cofactor in Fgf23 signaling (13
, 14)
. The klotho gene encodes a single-pass transmembrane protein. The extracellular domain of klotho protein consists of two homologous domains that share sequence homology to the β-glucosidase protein present in bacteria and plants. The klotho gene is predominantly expressed in the kidneys, parathyroid glands and brain (15)
. Such restricted expression of klotho is believed to confer tissue-specificity of Fgf23 function.
Recent in vitro studies, however, have shown that Fgf23 can exert functions on certain cells in the absence of klotho. For instance, in vitro adenoviral overexpression of FGF23 in fetal rat calvaria cells has been shown to suppress osteoblast differentiation and matrix mineralization (16)
. Similarly, high doses of Fgf23 can weakly induce proliferation of murine bone marrow-derived pro-B cell lines overexpressing c-isoforms of FGF receptor 1–3 and FGF receptor 4 in the absence of klotho (17)
. Such in vitro studies raise the question of whether FGF23 can exert systemic klotho independent functions. In view of the fact that klotho is an important FGF23 signaling cofactor (18)
, this study was designed to assess whether FGF23 has a klotho-independent effect on regulation of systemic phosphate homeostasis. To address klotho-dependent and -independent effects of FGF23 in vivo, we generated Fgf23 and klotho double-knockout (Fgf23–/–/klotho–/–) mice and examined the phenotype of these mice in comparison to that of Fgf23-knockout (Fgf23–/–) and klotho-knockout (klotho–/–) mice.
| MATERIALS AND METHODS |
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Gross phenotype and survival
The total body weight of each of the mice was recorded every week starting at 3 wk of age until death. Survival of wild-type, Fgf23–/–, klotho–/–, and Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice was recorded until death.
Biochemical measurements
Blood was obtained by cheek-pouch bleeding of wild-type, Fgf23–/–, klotho–/–, and Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice. Serum was isolated by centrifugation at 3000 g for 10 min and stored at –80°C. Serum phosphorus and calcium were determined by colorimetric measurements using the Stanbio Phosphorus Liqui-UV Test and Calcium (Arsenazo) LiquiColor Test, respectively (Stanbio Laboratory, Boerne, TX, USA). Urinary phosphorus and creatinine were determined using Stanbio LiquiUV and creatinine kits, respectively. Differential blood cells counts were also determined by an automated device. The level of 1,25–hydroxyvitamin-D [1,25(OH)2D3] was measured in serum obtained from wild-type, Fgf23–/–, klotho–/–, and Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice using a kit purchased from Immunodiagnostic Systems Ltd. (Fountain Hills, AZ, USA). The serum level of parathyroid hormone (PTH) was measured using a commercial kit (Immutopics, Inc., San Clemente, CA, USA).
Histological analyses
Soft tissues obtained from wild-type, Fgf23–/–, klotho–/–, and Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde, 10% buffered formalin, or Carnoys solution and were subsequently embedded in paraffin. Paraffin sections (4–6 µm) of various tissues were mounted on SuperFrost Plus slides. Sections were then routinely stained with hematoxylin and eosin, von Kossa, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), periodic acid-Schiff methenamine silver (PAM), and Massons trichrome (19
, 20)
. Histological changes were observed by light microscopy.
Calcification analyses
To determine the effects of hyperphosphatemia on soft tissue and vascular calcification in Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice, sections were prepared from heart, lung, kidney, liver, spleen, gastrointestinal tract, and aorta and were stained with von Kossa to visualize mineralized tissue by light microscopy. The von Kossa-stained sections of Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice were compared with similarly stained sections from wild-type, Fgf23–/– and klotho–/– mice. The von Kossa staining procedure is detailed in an earlier publication (21)
.
Immunofluorescence staining
Immunostaining was performed as described previously (22
23
24)
. Briefly, kidneys obtained from wild-type, Fgf23–/–, klotho–/–, and Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice were stored at –80°C and embedded in optimal cutting temperature (OCT) compound. Frozen sections were incubated in a blocking solution for 30 min and then overnight with polyclonal anti-NaPi2a (sodium/phosphate cotransporter 2a protein) antibody (dilution 1:100; Alpha Diagnostic, San Antonio, TX, USA) at 4°C. The slides were washed with PBS and incubated with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled anti-rabbit secondary antibody (dilution, 1:100) for 30 min. After a PBS wash, coverslips were placed on slides using 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) -containing mounting media. The expression of NaPi2a was visualized under UV light, using immunofluorescence microscopy. Rabbit serum or PBS, in place of primary antibody, was used as a negative control. The staining was quantified using an image analyzer (Photoshop® software; Adobe Systems, San Jose, CA, USA) by subtracting background staining from the stained areas (25)
.
Quantitative real-time PCR
Total RNA isolated from the kidneys of wild-type, Fgf23–/–, klotho–/–, and Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice was used to detect relative expression of 1-alpha-hydroxylase [1
(OH)ase] mRNA, as described previously (26)
. Real-time PCR was performed in triplicate. The quantity of mRNA was calculated by normalizing the CT (threshold cycle value) of 1
(OH)ase to the CT of the housekeeping gene GAPDH of the same sample. The sequences of the utilized primers were as follows: 1
(OH)ase (forward 5'-TCA GAT GTT TGC CTT TGC CC; reverse 5'-TGG TTC CTC ATC GCA GCT TC-3'), and GAPDH (forward 5'-ACT GAG GAC CAG GTT GTC-3'; reverse 5'-TGC TGT AGC CGT ATT CAT TG-3').
Bioactive FGF23 protein injection
Wild-type, Fgf23–/–, klotho–/–, and Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice were injected intraperitoneally with vehicle, or recombinant bioactive FGF23 protein (5 µg per mouse) (27)
. Blood was collected by cheek-pouch bleeding prior to the injections and at 12 h postinjection. Isolated serum was used to determine phosphate levels in an animal pre- and postinjection, using the Stanbio LiquiUV kit.
Statistics
Statistically significant differences between groups were evaluated by the Students t test for a comparison between two groups or by one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukeys test for multiple comparisons. All values are expressed as means ± SE. Values of P < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. All analyses were performed using Microsoft Excel (Microsoft, Redmond, WA, USA) and GraphPad Prism 4.0 (GraphPad, San Diego, CA, USA).
| RESULTS |
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Gross phenotype and survival of Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice
At birth, Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– double-knockout mice were indistinguishable from their littermates of other genotypes. At 3 wk of age, Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– double-knockout mice were larger in size than Fgf23–/– mice (9.4±0.86 vs. 7.0±0.37 g), smaller than wild-type (14.4±0.29 g) and similar in size to klotho–/– single-knockout animals (9.9±0.26 g). At 6 and 12 wk of age, Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– double-knockout mice were still smaller than their wild-type littermates (10.3±0.28 vs. 24.9±0.72 g at 9 wk), but their body weight was higher than that of Fgf23–/– mice (8.1±0.2 g at 9 wk). At 9 wk of age, the average body weight of klotho–/– mice was 11.8 ± 0.28 g (Fig. 1A, B
). Compared to the wild-type littermates, Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– double-knockout mice were smaller in size, with sluggish movements, similar to Fgf23–/– and klotho–/– mice. Furthermore, Fgf23–/–/ klotho–/– mice had a maximum survival of around 16 wk, similar to the klotho–/– mice (Fig. 1C
). It is worth mentioning that the Fgf23–/– mice also had a shorter life span compared to wild-type mice (Fig. 1C
).
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Blood, serum, and urine analyses of Fgf23–/–/ klotho–/– mice
Serum phosphate, calcium, 1,25(OH)2D3, and PTH levels were measured in 3- to 6-wk-old wild-type, Fgf23–/–, klotho–/– and Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice. The double-knockout mice were severely hyperphosphatemic by 3 to 6 wk of age (11.2±0.5 mg/dl) when compared to wild-type mice (7.7±0.3 mg/dl). The high serum phosphate levels in Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice were similar to those found in age-matched Fgf23–/– mice (13.6±0.5 mg/dl) or klotho–/– mice (13.5±0.4 mg/dl) (Fig. 2A
). The hyperphosphatemia in double-knockout mice was associated with decreased urinary phosphate excretion (normalized to urinary creatinine) (2.1±0.5 in Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice vs. 7.8±1.6 in wild-type controls). Collectively, these findings suggest that inactivation of Fgf23 and klotho function, either alone or in combination, can lead to hyperphosphatemia, due to reduced urinary excretion of phosphate.
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Serum 1,25(OH)2D3 and PTH were also markedly changed in Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice: serum 1,25(OH)2D3 was increased to levels resembling those found in the single-knockout mice, whereas serum PTH was decreased to low or nearly undetectable levels (Supplemental Fig. S1). Serum calcium levels were slightly higher in the double-knockout mice at around 6 wk of age, as also noted in the single-knockout animals, and remained elevated with age in all three mutant mouse lines (Fig. 2B
). At around 6 wk of age, serum calcium in Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice (10.1±0.1 mg/dl, n=7) was similar to that found in Fgf23–/– mice (10.1±0.3 mg/dl, n=8) or klotho–/– mice (10.1±0.2 mg/dl, n=14), and higher than the levels observed in controls (9.1±0.1 mg/dl, n=22).
The total blood cell count showed increased neutrophils and decreased lymphocytes in Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– double-knockout mice, compared to the control mice. Similar neutrophilia and lymphocytopenia were also detected in Fgf23–/– and klotho–/– single-knockout animals (data not shown).
Renal expression of NaPi2a and 1
(OH)ase in Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice
To determine the role of NaPi2a in Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice, we examined its expression pattern in kidney sections prepared from mice with various genotypes. Compared with wild-type mice, increased expression of NaPi2a protein in the luminal side of the proximal tubules was noted in Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice (Fig. 3
). It is presumed that increased expression of NaPi2a is associated with increased renal reuptake of phosphate, resulting in reduced phosphate excretion, and hence hyperphosphatemia in Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice. Increased renal expression of NaPi2a was also noted in Fgf23–/– and klotho–/– mice (Fig. 3
), suggesting that inactivation of the Fgf23-klotho axis, either alone or in combination, can up-regulate expression of NaPi2a.
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Renal expression of 1
(OH)ase, the enzyme that converts inactive vitamin-D metabolites into active 1,25(OH)2D3, was
6-fold higher in Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice compared to wild-type mice, as determined by real-time PCR. Similarly, compared to the control kidneys, 1
(OH)ase expression was increased >10-fold in the kidneys obtained from either Fgf23–/– mice or klotho–/– mice. Increased renal expression of 1
(OH)ase was associated with an increased serum level of 1,25(OH)2D3 in all three gene-knockout mice (Supplemental Fig. S1).
Soft tissue anomalies of Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice
Histological examination of various soft tissues from Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice showed generalized atrophy of the skin (Fig. 4
), skeletal muscle, reproductive organs, and intestines (Supplemental Figs. S2 and S3); such atrophy was markedly obvious by 6 wk of age and remained evident for the rest of life. Severe gonadal atrophy in Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice was associated with infertility of both male and female homozygous double mutants. In addition, severe lung emphysema was consistently observed in Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice (Fig. 4
). All of these soft tissue changes noted in Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice were also evident in Fgf23–/– or klotho–/– mice, suggesting that abnormal soft tissue changes were the consequence of inactivation of the Fgf23-klotho axis, either alone or in combination in the single- or double-knockout mice, respectively (Table 1
).
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Ectopic calcification of Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice
Extensive vascular and soft tissue calcifications were widely present in the lung, kidney, aorta, and other organs in Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice. By von Kossa staining, ectopic calcified areas were noted in the alveolar septum of the lung (Supplemental Fig. S4), tubules of the kidney, and aortic wall of Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice (Fig. 5
). Similar calcified foci were also noted in numerous soft tissues of Fgf23–/– and klotho–/– mice. Together these data indicate that abnormal mineral metabolism due to inactivation of the Fgf23-klotho axis can induce pathological changes in the soft tissues (Fig. 5
).
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Effects of FGF23 protein injection in Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice
Bioactive FGF23 protein injection significantly lowered serum phosphate levels in wild-type mice (preinjection 7.61±0.5 mg/dl vs. postinjection 6.11±0.3 mg/dl; P<0.05) and Fgf23–/– mice (preinjection 16.99±0.8 mg/dl vs. postinjection 12.5±0.4 mg/dl; P<0.01). However, the treatment did not affect serum phosphate levels in Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– or klotho–/– mice (Fig. 6
), which suggests that, in the absence of klotho, FGF23 cannot regulate systemic phosphate homeostasis.
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| DISCUSSION |
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Recent studies have shown that FGF23 exerts its biological effects via activation of FGF receptors in a klotho-dependent fashion. Klotho acts by enhancing binding of FGF23 to its cognate receptor, which thus enables FGF23 to activate FGFRs and induce downstream signaling events including phosphorylation of FGF receptor substrate-2a, followed by activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and induction of early growth response element-1 (Egr-1) (13
, 14
, 30)
. The dependence of FGF23 on klotho for signaling in vivo is underscored by the findings that the physical, morphological and biochemical phenotypes of Fgf23–/–/ klotho–/– mice are similar to those of the Fgf23–/– mice and the klotho–/– mice, which suggests that such similarities in these genetically altered mouse models are the consequence of disruption of a common signaling pathway (18)
.
Note that in vitro studies have reported that FGF23 can act on certain cells that do not contain klotho. For instance, FGF23 can suppress osteoblast differentiation and bone mineralization in fetal rat calvaria cells (16)
. Similarly, FGF23 was shown to exhibit weak proliferative effects on a murine bone marrow-derived pro-B cell line overexpressing FGFRs in the absence of klotho (17)
. Such in vitro studies have raised an important question of whether FGF23 has systemic klotho-independent effects. To address this research question, we injected bioactive FGF23 protein into wild-type, single- and double-knockout mice. We did not observe any changes in systemic phosphate homeostasis in klotho–/– or Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice. In wild-type or Fgf23–/– mice, however, FGF23 protein injection led to a decrease in serum phosphate (27)
. Because both wild-type and Fgf23–/– mice have endogenous klotho, exogenous FGF23 can influence systemic phosphate homeostasis in these animals. On the other hand, in klotho–/– and Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice, which lack klotho, FGF23 is unable to exert any phosphaturic effect.
Our newly generated Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice have shortened lifespans, pulmonary emphysema, infertility, atherosclerosis, extensive soft tissue calcifications, skin atrophy, muscle wasting, and abnormal vitamin D and mineral ion metabolism. Thus, the phenotype of Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice is by and large identical with that of Fgf23 or klotho single-knockout mice. The overlapping phenotypes of these three mutant mouse lines suggest that such similarities are due to disruption of factors that constitute a common signaling pathway (18
, 31
, 32)
. Our results provide compelling genetic evidence of the in vivo importance of klotho in the regulation of systemic phosphate homeostasis by FGF23. Recent demonstration of a homozygous loss-of-function mutation in Klotho gene in a patient with tumoral calcinosis has provided additional evidence for the dependence of FGF23 on klotho to regulate phosphate and vitamin D homeostasis in humans (33)
.
Results obtained from the newly generated Fgf23–/–/ klotho–/– mice also show that renal expression of 1
-hydroxylase and serum level of 1,25(OH)2D3 were increased, whereas serum PTH was suppressed (Supplemental Fig. S1). The PTH deficit may account for the increased renal expression of NaPi2a in these double-knockout mice, as PTH can influence renal phosphate reabsorption by facilitating endocytosis of NaPi2a transporters from the brush-border membrane of proximal tubular epithelial cells and eventual lysosomal degradation of the transporters (34
35
36)
. A decreased level of PTH, therefore, can facilitate an increased presence of NaPi2a, which in turn induces increased renal phosphate reabsorption and, subsequently, hyperphosphatemia in Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice as well as in Fgf23–/– and klotho–/– mice.
Analysis of our newly generated Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– compound mutants suggest that genetic inactivation of Fgf23 and klotho activities results in severe hyperphosphatemia and impaired vitamin D metabolism, and that Fgf23 does not have a klotho-independent function in the regulation of systemic phosphate homeostasis in vivo. Furthermore, Fgf23–/–/klotho–/– mice provide a unique in vivo tool to study currently unknown systemic and local effects of FGF23 or klotho without interference from the endogenous mouse Fgf23 and klotho activities. Such studies will expand our understanding of the fundamental aspects of calcium and phosphate homeostasis (18
, 37
, 38)
and may help in developing novel strategies to treat diseases associated with abnormal mineral ion metabolism (39)
.
| ACKNOWLEDGMENTS |
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Received for publication July 22, 2008. Accepted for publication September 11, 2008.
| REFERENCES |
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