{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,10]],"date-time":"2026-04-10T17:09:16Z","timestamp":1775840956807,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,4]],"date-time":"2025-08-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1754265600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Pediatr."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title><jats:p>Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) significantly affects neonatal development, but its pathogenesis is not fully understood. Klotho protein is involved in aging-related diseases, and its role in fetal growth is unclear. This study aims to explore Klotho's role in IUGR.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>A case-control study was conducted at Nanning Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital from July 2023 to June 2024. Fifty-two neonates (gestational age \u226534 weeks and &amp;lt;42 weeks) were divided into the appropriate for gestational age (AGA) group (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u200930) and the IUGR group (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u200922). Venous and umbilical cord blood were collected to measure Klotho, growth hormone (GH), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Placental tissues were examined for histopathology and immunohistochemistry.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>The IUGR group showed placental morphological changes, including increased syncytial knots and inflammation. Klotho expression in placental tissue was significantly reduced (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&amp;lt;\u20090.0001), while IGF-1 levels increased (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&amp;lt;\u20090.001) and GH levels decreased (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&amp;lt;\u20090.001). Soluble \u03b1-Klotho levels were lower in maternal venous blood (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&amp;lt;\u20090.0001) and umbilical cord blood (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009&amp;lt;\u20090.01). GH and IGF-1 levels in maternal venous blood and umbilical cord blood were altered in IUGR cases.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title><jats:p>Reduced Klotho expression in IUGR cases, along with changes in GH and IGF-1, suggests disruptions in metabolic processes affecting fetal growth and development. These findings suggest a potential involvement of Klotho in placental changes and fetal development, warranting further mechanistic studies.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fped.2025.1611877","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,4]],"date-time":"2025-08-04T06:16:08Z","timestamp":1754288168000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Expression and clinical significance of Klotho protein in serum, umbilical cord blood, and placenta of pregnant women with intrauterine growth 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