Emerging Roles of Klotho in Cardiovascular Diseases

Klotho is a putative anti-aging gene, which in recent years has emerged as an important factor in the etiologic and cure/prevention of varied pathologies. The expression of this protein in the vascular wall and its role in maintenance of vascular homeostasis indicates its importance in cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as diabetes, hypertension, vascular calcification, cardiac hypertrophy, atherosclerosis, etc. It seems to be a panacea and as such holds a major influence on future medicine. This review attempts to provide an overview of the part played by Klotho in the various pathologies included in CVD.