Research & science
A heritage of research,
at the service of prevention.
Maison Klotho draws on French medical research. Klotho, a protein produced largely by the kidney, is the thread of our work.
The heritage
From the kidney to longevity.
In Greek mythology, ClothoClotho (Κλωθώ), in Greek mythology, is the one of the three Fates who spins the thread of life. The Klotho protein, produced largely by the kidney, took her name: it is studied for its link with longevity. spins the thread of existence. Klotho is also a protein that acts on many signalling pathways, across the whole organism. It is produced largely by the kidney, the organ of balance, which nephrology has studied for a long time.
It is from this medical heritage that the House starts: measure precisely, understand how each organ ages, then accompany over time.
Work on Klotho belongs to research. It is neither a promise of results nor a treatment.
Klotho, an essential protein of longevity
Made by the kidney,
present throughout the body.
Klotho, named after the Greek goddess who weaves the thread of life, is today one of the most studied proteins in longevity research. Produced mainly by the kidneys, it acts on several key mechanisms of ageing: oxidative stress, inflammation, vascular health and mineral balance. Studies describe it as geroprotective, which places your kidneys at the heart of your health capital.
The main pathways of action of Klotho
Calcium-phosphate balance
Klotho is the essential co-receptor of FGF23 in the kidney. Together, they increase the urinary elimination of phosphate and slow the activation of vitamin D, which prevents an excess of phosphate in the blood.
Blood vessels
By limiting phosphate, Klotho protects against calcification of the arteries. Its soluble form, which circulates in the blood, preserves the endothelium: it promotes the production of nitric oxide and reduces oxidative stress and inflammation.
Autophagy
Klotho slows the insulin and IGF-1 pathway, and therefore mTOR. This brake restarts autophagy, the great cellular clean-up that recycles damaged organelles.
Senescence
Klotho inhibits the Wnt pathway and activates antioxidant defences via FOXO. Cells enter senescence less, and the chronic inflammation linked to age decreases.
Much of these data comes from animal studies. [Wording to be validated by Dr Bor]
What research shows
Results in animals,
human studies still to come.
In mice
Mice deprived of the Klotho gene show accelerated ageing: calcified arteries, bone loss, skin atrophy and a greatly reduced lifespan (Kuro-o et al., Nature, 1997). Conversely, mice that overexpress Klotho live about 20 to 30% longer (Kurosu et al., Science, 2005).
In monkeys
In elderly macaques, a single injection of a low dose of Klotho improved their memory performance for several weeks (Castner et al., Nature Aging, 2023). It is the first demonstration of this effect in a primate.
These results make Klotho one of the most promising avenues of longevity research. Studies in humans remain to be carried out.
Klotho at a glance
At the heart of six drivers
of ageing.
Klotho does not target a single pathway: it acts at once on oxidative stress, nutrient signalling, autophagy, senescence, mineral metabolism and the brain.
- Oxidative stressFOXO antioxidantsProtects cells from wear
- SenescenceWnt pathway blockedFewer old cells
- Blood vesselsphosphate, FGF23Arteries that age less
- Brainsynaptic plasticityMemory and cognition better preserved
- Autophagyorganelle recyclingCells recycle their worn parts
- IGF-1 · mTORsignal slowedSlows the ageing clock
Our scientific partners
Two professors,
one shared question: Klotho.
Maison Klotho works with two university hospital professors on Klotho, and draws on the work of the man who discovered it.
Nephrology
Pr Dominique Prié
Necker Hospital, Paris
He enables the House to measure Klotho at Necker, and to conduct a study on Klotho, lifestyle and GLP-1 type treatments.
[Title, department and agreement of Pr Prié to be confirmed]
Vascular age
Pr Rosa Maria Bruno
Georges-Pompidou European Hospital, Paris
She is interested in joint work on Klotho and vascular age.
[Title, department and agreement of Pr Bruno to be confirmed]
Scientific reference
Pr Makoto Kuro-o
Japan
He discovered the Klotho gene. The House has no direct collaboration with him: the link goes through Maison Galénic, which works with him.
[Link between Maison Galénic and Pr Kuro-o, title and institution to be confirmed]
[Nature of the collaboration to be described precisely, after written agreement of each person]
The genes of ageing
Genes that accelerate ageing,
others that slow it.
Researchers distinguish gerogenes, which accelerate ageing, from gerosuppressors, which slow it. Klotho is one of the latter.
Gerogenes
They accelerate ageing.
- IGF1
- miR-29
- LMNA
- APOE ε4
Gerosuppressors
They slow ageing.
- Klotho
- SIRT6
- FOXO3A
- TET2
- DNMT3A
- ATM
- BRCA1
- BRCA2
- APOE ε2
Eight mechanisms
Where these genes act.
Hover over or choose a mechanism: you see the genes associated with it.
Mechanism 5 of 8
Deficient autophagy
Gerogenes (accelerate)
- LMNA
- IGF1
Gerosuppressors (slow)
- Klotho
- SIRT6
Work on these genes belongs to research. It is neither a promise of results nor a treatment, and the House offers no test based on it.
[Reference of the original article and validation by Dr Bor to be obtained before publication]
What this changes for you
A medical reading, not a score.
Epigenetic clocks read DNA methylation to estimate the biological age of your tissues. The doctor reads them alongside the markers of your check-up to build an action plan with you.
What we measure First consultation