New perspectives on the pathophysiological roles of TCTP as a multifunctional protein as well as a cytosolic sodium pump inhibitor and as a player in the development of systemic and arterial hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, cataracts, diabetes, and related disorders via inhibition of the sodium pump in VSMC, lens epithelial, or other relevant cells have emerged from the studies of genetically engineered animal models. The gene discussed is ATP12A; the disease is cardiac hypertrophy.