Klotho as a Novel Cardioprotective Protein in Aged Heart

In recent years, researchers have been looking for genes whose products can directly affect the aging process. Among these, the anti-aging protein klotho has attracted much attention. This single transmembrane protein is expressed in the renal tissues, parathyroid gland and choroid network of the brain and acts as a co-receptor for Fibroblast Growth Factor FGF. In this way, it contributes to calcium and phosphate homeostasis, which is in fact the classical function of this protein. The second extracellular protein of this protein can be released from cell surface by ectodomain shedding and get secreted into the blood, which, in turn, as an “endocrine factor”, affects the body in many ways.