Klotho upregulates the interaction between RANK and TRAF6 to facilitate RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis via the NF-κB signaling pathway

Background α-Klotho (Klotho) plays a wide range of roles in pathophysiological processes, such as low-turnover osteoporosis observed in klotho mutant mice (kl/kl mice). However, the precise function and underlying mechanism of klotho during osteoclastogenesis are not fully understood. Here, we investigated the effects of klotho on osteoclastogenesis induced by receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL). Methods The effects of klotho deficiency on osteoclastogenesis were explored using kl/kl mice both in vivo and in vitro. In in vitro experiments, lentivirus transfection, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis, western blot analysis, immunostaining, RNA-seq analysis, differential pathway analysis, Energy-based protein docking analysis and co-immunoprecipitation were used for deeply investigating the effects of klotho on RANKL-induced Osteoclastogenesis and the underlying mechanism. Results We found that klotho deficiency impaired osteoclastogenesis. Furthermore, in vitro studies revealed that klotho facilitated osteoclastogenesis and upregulated the expression of c-Fos and nuclear factor of activated T cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1) during osteoclastogenesis. Mechanistically, we confirmed that klotho co-localized with nuclear factor kappa B (RANK) and facilitated the interaction between activated RANK and TNFR-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), thus klotho exerts its function in osteoclastogenesis through the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Conclusions Klotho promotes RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis through upregulating the interaction between RANK and TARF6, Targeting on klotho may be an attractive therapeutic method for osteopenic diseases.