KL and atherosclerosis: Klotho protein, an important regulator of mineral metabolism (3), has been reported to exert a protective anti-inflammatory role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in both clinical and preclinical studies (4–12).Klotho is a single-pass transmembrane protein predominantly expressed in the kidneys and, at lesser extent, it has also been detected in the vasculature, and in peripheral blood circulating cells (PBCCs) (13–15).