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Updated: Jan 11, 2026

Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation
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Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation

Published on: May 31, 2016

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Reduced Circulating α-Klotho Levels Are Associated With Elevated Mortality and Arterial Calcifications of Aorta and

Elias Hellou1, Parvin Kalhor1, Ali Babaie1

  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine Mayo Clinic Rochester MN USA.

Journal of the American Heart Association
|November 17, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Lower levels of the protein Klotho are linked to increased vascular calcification and higher mortality risk over 10 years. This suggests Klotho plays a role in aging blood vessels.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Vascular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • α-Klotho is a protein crucial for vascular health, with declining levels associated with aging-related vascular conditions.
  • Reduced Klotho is linked to arterial stiffness, endothelial dysfunction, and vascular calcification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between circulating Klotho levels, aortoiliac calcification, endothelial progenitor cells, and long-term survival.
  • To explore Klotho's role in the aging vasculature.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of 148 participants.
  • Calcification scored by blinded clinicians using computed tomography.
  • Plasma Klotho measured by ELISA; endothelial progenitor cells quantified by flow cytometry; mortality data from death registry.

Main Results:

  • Lower Klotho levels correlated with increased aortoiliac calcification (r=-0.315, P<0.01).
  • Patients with low calcification had significantly higher Klotho levels (P<0.01).
  • Low Klotho was independently associated with higher 10-year mortality (HR=3.056, P=0.014).

Conclusions:

  • Decreased circulating Klotho levels are associated with greater aortoiliac calcification.
  • Lower Klotho is a predictor of increased 10-year mortality.
  • These findings support Klotho's significant role in vascular aging.
Abstract

Keywords:
cardiovascular agingvascular calcificationα‐Klotho

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