Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

In Transfusion-dependent Thalassemia, Increased Iron Overload is Associated with Lower Serum Alpha-klotho, Which is Strongly Associated with Lower Total and Ionized Calcium Concentrations

Version 1 : Received: 16 July 2020 / Approved: 16 July 2020 / Online: 16 July 2020 (10:49:20 CEST)

How to cite: Maes, M.; Moustafa, S.R.; Al-Hakeim, H.K.; Alhillawi, Z.H. In Transfusion-dependent Thalassemia, Increased Iron Overload is Associated with Lower Serum Alpha-klotho, Which is Strongly Associated with Lower Total and Ionized Calcium Concentrations. Preprints 2020, 2020070347. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202007.0347.v1 Maes, M.; Moustafa, S.R.; Al-Hakeim, H.K.; Alhillawi, Z.H. In Transfusion-dependent Thalassemia, Increased Iron Overload is Associated with Lower Serum Alpha-klotho, Which is Strongly Associated with Lower Total and Ionized Calcium Concentrations. Preprints 2020, 2020070347. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202007.0347.v1

Abstract

Patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) show disorders in calcium metabolism. The α-klotho protein is predominantly expressed in tissues that are involved in calcium homeostasis, and lowered levels are associated with bone disease. Aim of the study. To study the associations between low α-klotho status and calcium metabolism in relation to iron status in children with TDT. Methods. α-klotho, calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcyphosin, vitamin D3, phosphorous, fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2), as well as iron and erythron biomarkers were measured in 60 children with TDT and 30 healthy control children. Results. A meaningful part of TDT patients showed lowered α-klotho levels, and those children also showed low serum total and ionized calcium concentrations. TDT patients showed increased PTH, FGFR2, and calcyphosin and lowered vitamin D3 as compared with healthy children. The α-klotho levels were significantly correlated with total and ionized calcium (positively) and with iron overload biomarkers and the number of blood transfusions (inversely). Partial Least Squares path analysis showed that 40.1% of the variance in serum total calcium could be explained by the regression on α-klotho, vitamin D3 (both positively), and calcyphosin (inversely) and that the effects of the latter are mediated by iron overload and the number of blood transfusions. Conclusion. In TDT, iron overload and its consequences may induce lowered levels of α-klotho which in turn may lead to lower calcium thereby explaining at least in part the effects of TDT on bone metabolism including spontaneous pathological fractures, osteoporosis, osteopenia, and skeletal deformities.

Keywords

Calcium; α-klotho; inflammation; oxidative stress; antioxidants; biomarkers

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Comments (0)

We encourage comments and feedback from a broad range of readers. See criteria for comments and our Diversity statement.

Leave a public comment
Send a private comment to the author(s)
* All users must log in before leaving a comment
Views 0
Downloads 0
Comments 0
Metrics 0


×
Alerts
Notify me about updates to this article or when a peer-reviewed version is published.
We use cookies on our website to ensure you get the best experience.
Read more about our cookies here.