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Anti-Aging Gene linked to High Blood
Pressure…Scientists reduce hypertension,
reverse kidney damage, results appear in
latest issue of American Heart Association
journal
Oklahoma City, OK -- OKLAHOMA CITY –
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma
Health Sciences Center have shown the first
link between a newly discovered anti-aging
gene and high blood pressure.
The results, which appear this month in the
journal Hypertension, offer new clues on how
we age and how we might live longer.
Persistent hypertension, or high blood
pressure, is a risk factor for stroke, heart
attack, heart failure, arterial aneurysm and
is the leading cause of chronic kidney
failure. Even a modest elevation of arterial
blood pressure leads to shortened life
expectancy.
Researchers, led by principal investigator
Zhongjie Sun, tested the effect of an
anti-aging gene called klotho on reducing
hypertension.
They
found that by increasing the expression of
the gene in laboratory models, they not only
stopped blood pressure from continuing to
rise, but succeeded in lowering it.
Perhaps most impressive was the complete
reversal of kidney damage, which is
associated with prolonged high blood
pressure and often leads to kidney failure.
“One single injection of the klotho gene can
reduce hypertension for at least 12 weeks
and possibly longer.
"Klotho
is also available as a protein and,
conceivably, we could ingest it as a powder
much like we do with protein drinks,” said
Sun, M.D., Ph.D., a cardiovascular expert at
the OU College of Medicine.
Scientists have been working with the klotho
gene and its link to aging since 1997 when
it was discovered by Japanese scientists.
This is the first study showing that a
decline in klotho protein level may be
involved in the progression of hypertension
and kidney damage, Sun said.
With age, the klotho level decreases while
the prevalence of hypertension increases.
Researchers used one injection of the klotho
gene in hypertensive research models and
were able to markedly reduce blood pressure
by the second week. It continued to decline
steadily for the length of the project – 12
weeks.
The klotho gene was delivered with a safe
viral vector that is currently used for gene
therapy. The virus is already approved by
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for
use in humans.
Researchers are studying the gene’s effect
for longer periods to test its ability to
return blood pressure levels to normal. They
also are looking at whether klotho can
prevent hypertension.
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