The Circulating Level of Klotho Is Not Dependent upon Physical Fitness and Age-Associated Methylation Increases at the Promoter Region of the Klotho Gene

Abstract

(1) Background: Higher levels of physical fitness are believed to increase the physiological quality of life and impact the aging process with a wide range of adaptive mechanisms, including the regulation of the expression of the age-associated klotho (KL) gene and protein levels. (2) Methods: Here, we tested the relationship between the DNA methylation-based epigenetic biomarkers PhenoAge and GrimAge and methylation of the promoter region of the KL gene, the circulating level of KL, and the stage of physical fitness and grip force in two groups of volunteer subjects, trained (TRND) and sedentary (SED), aged between 37 and 85 years old. (3) Results: The circulating KL level is negatively associated with chronological age in the TRND group (r = −0.19; p = 0.0295) but not in the SED group (r = −0.065; p = 0.5925). The age-associated decrease in circulating KL is partly due to the increased methylation of the KL gene. In addition, higher plasma KL is significantly related to epigenetic age-deceleration in the TRND group, assessed by the biomarker of PhenoAge (r = −0.21; p = 0.0192). (4) Conclusions: The level of physical fitness, on the other hand, does not relate to circulating KL levels, nor to the rate of the methylation of the promoter region of the KL gene, only in males.