KL may function as part of a signaling pathway that regulates morbidity in age-related diseases such as atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, and mineral metabolism diseases such as ectopic calcification (Ko et al., 2013; Kuro-o et al., 1997; Hu et al., 2011; Ohnishi et al., 2009). The gene discussed is KL; the disease is cardiovascular disorder.