MRTFA and diabetes mellitus: Indeed, it was demonstrated in a murine model that haplodeficiency of anti-aging gene klotho [KL(+/-)] deficiency of this protein exacerbates streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes, whereas beta cell-specific expression of mouse klotho gene (mKL) or a systemic treatment with sKlotho, attenuated beta cell apoptosis and prevented diabetes in both STZ-induced and NOD mice (10, 31).