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McIntosh T, Walsh H, Baldwin K, Iltis A, Mohan S, Sawinski D, Goodman M, DuBois JM. Evaluating ApoL1 Genetic Testing Policy Options for Transplant Centers: A Delphi Consensus Panel Project with Stakeholders. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2024; 19:494-502. [PMID: 38190141 PMCID: PMC11020447 DOI: 10.2215/cjn.0000000000000397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Apolipoprotein L1 (ApoL1) variants G1 and G2 are associated with a higher risk of kidney disease. ApoL1 risk variants are predominantly seen in individuals with sub-Saharan African ancestry. In most transplant centers, potential organ donors are being selectively genetically tested for ApoL1 risk variants. Transplant programs have highly variable ApoL1 testing practices and need guidance on essential ApoL1 clinical policy questions. METHODS We conducted a Delphi consensus panel focused on ApoL1 clinical policy questions, including who gets tested, who decides whether testing occurs, how test results are shared, who receives test results, and how test results are used. A total of 27 panelists across seven stakeholder groups participated: living kidney donors ( n =4), deceased donor family members ( n =3), recipients of a deceased donor kidney ( n =4), recipients of a living donor kidney ( n =4), nephrologists ( n =4), transplant surgeons ( n =4), and genetic counselors ( n =4). Nineteen panelists (70%) identified as Black. The Delphi panel process involved two rounds of educational webinars and three rounds of surveys administered to panelists, who were asked to indicate whether they support, could live with, or oppose each policy option. RESULTS The panel reached consensus on one or more acceptable policy options for each clinical policy question; panelists supported 18 policy options and opposed 15. Key elements of consensus include the following: ask potential donors about African ancestry rather than race; make testing decisions only after discussion with donors; encourage disclosure of test results to blood relatives and organ recipients but do not require it; use test results to inform decision making, but never for unilateral decisions by transplant programs. CONCLUSIONS The panel generally supported policy options involving discussion and shared decision making among patients, donors, and family stakeholders. There was general opposition to unilateral decision making and prohibiting donation altogether.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan McIntosh
- Bioethics Resaerch Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Heidi Walsh
- Bioethics Resaerch Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Kari Baldwin
- Bioethics Resaerch Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Ana Iltis
- Center for Bioethics, Health and Society, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Sumit Mohan
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | | | - Melody Goodman
- School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, New York
| | - James M. DuBois
- Bioethics Resaerch Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
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McElroy LM, Schappe T, Mohottige D, Davis L, Peskoe SB, Wang V, Pendergast J, Boulware LE. Racial Equity in Living Donor Kidney Transplant Centers, 2008-2018. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2347826. [PMID: 38100105 PMCID: PMC10724764 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.47826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance It is unclear whether center-level factors are associated with racial equity in living donor kidney transplant (LDKT). Objective To evaluate center-level factors and racial equity in LDKT during an 11-year time period. Design, Setting, and Participants A retrospective cohort longitudinal study was completed in February 2023, of US transplant centers with at least 12 annual LDKTs from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2018, identified in the Health Resources Services Administration database and linked to the US Renal Data System and the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. Main Outcomes and Measures Observed and model-based estimated Black-White mean LDKT rate ratios (RRs), where an RR of 1 indicates racial equity and values less than 1 indicate a lower rate of LDKT of Black patients compared with White patients. Estimated yearly best-case center-specific LDKT RRs between Black and White individuals, where modifiable center characteristics were set to values that would facilitate access to LDKT. Results The final cohorts of patients included 394 625 waitlisted adults, of whom 33.1% were Black and 66.9% were White, and 57 222 adult LDKT recipients, of whom 14.1% were Black and 85.9% were White. Among 89 transplant centers, estimated yearly center-level RRs between Black and White individuals accounting for center and population characteristics ranged from 0.0557 in 2008 to 0.771 in 2018. The yearly median RRs ranged from 0.216 in 2016 to 0.285 in 2010. Model-based estimations for the hypothetical best-case scenario resulted in little change in the minimum RR (from 0.0557 to 0.0549), but a greater positive shift in the maximum RR from 0.771 to 0.895. Relative to the observed 582 LDKT in Black patients and 3837 in White patients, the 2018 hypothetical model estimated an increase of 423 (a 72.7% increase) LDKTs for Black patients and of 1838 (a 47.9% increase) LDKTs for White patients. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study of patients with kidney failure, no substantial improvement occurred over time either in the observed or the covariate-adjusted estimated RRs. Under the best-case hypothetical estimations, modifying centers' participation in the paired exchange and voucher programs and increased access to public insurance may contribute to improved racial equity in LDKT. Additional work is needed to identify center-level and program-specific strategies to improve racial equity in access to LDKT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M. McElroy
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Tyler Schappe
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Dinushika Mohottige
- Institute of Health Equity Research and Barbara T. Murphy Division of Nephrology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - LaShara Davis
- Department of Surgery and J. C. Walter Jr Transplant Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas
| | - Sarah B. Peskoe
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Virginia Wang
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jane Pendergast
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - L. Ebony Boulware
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina
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Iltis AS, Rolf L, Yaeger L, Goodman MS, DuBois JM. Attitudes and beliefs regarding race-targeted genetic testing of Black people: A systematic review. J Genet Couns 2023; 32:435-461. [PMID: 36644818 DOI: 10.1002/jgc4.1653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Geographical ancestry has been associated with an increased risk of various genetic conditions. Race and ethnicity often have been used as proxies for geographical ancestry. Despite numerous problems associated with the crude reliance on race and ethnicity as proxies for geographical ancestry, some genetic testing in the clinical, research, and employment settings has been and continues to be race- or ethnicity-based. Race-based or race-targeted genetic testing refers to genetic testing offered only or primarily to people of particular racial or ethnic groups because of presumed differences among groups. One current example is APOL1 testing of Black kidney donors. Race-based genetic testing raises numerous ethical and policy questions. Given the ongoing reliance on the Black race in genetic testing, it is important to understand the views of people who identify as Black or are identified as Black (including African American, Afro-Caribbean, and Hispanic Black) regarding race-based genetic testing that targets Black people because of their race. We conducted a systematic review of studies and reports of stakeholder-engaged projects that examined how people who identify as or are identified as Black perceive genetic testing that specifically presumes genetic differences exist among racial groups or uses race as a surrogate for ancestral genetic variation and targets Black people. Our review identified 14 studies that explicitly studied this question and another 13 that implicitly or tacitly studied this matter. We found four main factors that contribute to a positive attitude toward race-targeted genetic testing (facilitators) and eight main factors that are associated with concerns regarding race-targeted genetic testing (barriers). This review fills an important gap. These findings should inform future genetic research and the policies and practices developed in clinical, research, public health, or other settings regarding genetic testing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Liz Rolf
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
| | - Lauren Yaeger
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
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Lentine KL, Muiru AN, Lindsay KK, Caliskan Y, Edwards JC, Memon AA, Mosman AK, Miyata KN, Vo TM, Freedman BI, Carriker A, Hsu CY, Philipneri MD. APOL1 Genetic Testing in Patients With Recent African Ancestry and Hypertension: A Pilot Study of Attitudes and Perceptions. Kidney Med 2022; 4:100549. [PMID: 36573119 PMCID: PMC9788954 DOI: 10.1016/j.xkme.2022.100549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Krista L. Lentine
- SSM-Saint Louis University Hospital, St Louis, MO
- Address for Correspondence: Krista L. Lentine, MD, PhD, Saint Louis University Transplant Center, SSM-Saint Louis University Hospital, 1201 S Grand Blvd, St Louis, MO 63104
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Than-Mai Vo
- SSM-Saint Louis University Hospital, St Louis, MO
| | | | | | - Chi-yuan Hsu
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
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Adedinsewo DA, Porter IE, White RO, Hickson LJ. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease. CURRENT CARDIOVASCULAR RISK REPORTS 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12170-022-00701-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Harris DD, Fleishman A, Pavlakis M, Pollak MR, Baliga PK, Rohan V, Kayler LK, Rodrigue JR. Apolipoprotein L1 Opinions of African American Living Kidney Donors, Kidney Transplant Patients, and Nonpatients. J Surg Res 2022; 277:116-124. [PMID: 35489216 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2022.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The discovery of apolipoprotein L1 (ApoL1) has raised important ethical and clinical questions about genetic testing in the context of living and deceased kidney donation. Largely missing from this discussion are the perspectives of those African Americans (AA) most likely to be impacted by ApoL1 testing. METHODS We surveyed 331 AA potential and former living kidney donors (LKDs), kidney transplant candidates and recipients, and nonpatients at three United States transplant programs about their ApoL1 testing attitudes. RESULTS Overall, 72% felt that transplant programs should offer ApoL1 testing to AA potential LKDs. If a potential LKD has the high-risk genotype, 79% felt that the LKD should be allowed to make their own donation decision or participate in shared decision-making with transplant doctors. More than half of the potential LKDs (58%) would undergo ApoL1 testing and 81% of former LKDs would take the test now if offered. Most transplant candidates expressed a low likelihood of accepting a kidney from a LKD (79%) or a deceased donor (67%) with the high-risk genotype. CONCLUSIONS There is strong support among LKDs and transplant patients for ApoL1 testing when evaluating potential kidney donors of African ancestry. Inclusion of AA stakeholders in developing guidelines and educational programs for ApoL1 testing is critical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dwight D Harris
- Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Aaron Fleishman
- Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Martha Pavlakis
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Martin R Pollak
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Prabhakar K Baliga
- Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Vinayak Rohan
- Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Liise K Kayler
- Department of Surgery, University at Buffalo (SUNY) Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences and Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo, New York
| | - James R Rodrigue
- Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
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Nestor JG, Li AJ, King KL, Husain SA, McIntosh TJ, Sawinski D, Iltis AS, Goodman MS, Walsh HA, DuBois JM, Mohan S. Impact of education on APOL1 testing attitudes among prospective living kidney donors. Clin Transplant 2022; 36:e14516. [PMID: 34661305 PMCID: PMC9113661 DOI: 10.1111/ctr.14516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
It is unknown how providing prospective living donors with information about APOL1, including the benefits and drawbacks of testing, influences their desire for testing. In this study, we surveyed 102 participants with self-reported African ancestry and positive family history of kidney disease, recruited from our nephrology waiting room. We assessed views on APOL1 testing before and after presentation of a set of potential benefits and drawbacks of testing and quantified the self-reported level of influence individual benefits and drawbacks had on participants' desire for testing in the proposed context of living donation. The majority of participants (92%) were aware of organ donation and more than half (56%) had considered living donation. And though we found no significant change in response following presentation of the potential benefits and the drawbacks of APOL1 testing by study end significance, across all participants, "becoming aware of the potential risk of kidney disease among your immediate family" was the benefit with the highest mean influence (3.3±1.4), while the drawback with the highest mean influence (2.9±1.5) was "some transplant centers may not allow you to donate to a loved one". This study provides insights into the priorities of prospective living donors and suggests concern for how the information affects family members may strongly influence desires for testing. It also highlights the need for greater community engagement to gain a deeper understanding of the priorities that influence decision making on APOL1 testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan G. Nestor
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Amber J. Li
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kristen L. King
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - S. Ali Husain
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- The Columbia University Renal Epidemiology (CURE) Group, New York, New York, USA
| | - Tristan J. McIntosh
- Bioethics Research Center, Division of General Medical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Deirdre Sawinski
- Department of Medicine, Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ana S. Iltis
- Center for Bioethics Health and Society and Department of Philosophy, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Melody S. Goodman
- School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Heidi A. Walsh
- Bioethics Research Center, Division of General Medical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - James M. DuBois
- Bioethics Research Center, Division of General Medical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Sumit Mohan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- The Columbia University Renal Epidemiology (CURE) Group, New York, New York, USA
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West KM, Cavanaugh KL, Blacksher E, Fullerton SM, Umeukeje EM, Young B, Burke W. Stakeholder Perspectives on Returning Nonactionable Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) Genetic Results to African American Research Participants. J Empir Res Hum Res Ethics 2021; 17:4-14. [PMID: 34870514 DOI: 10.1177/15562646211063267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The ethics of returning nonactionable genetic research results to individuals are unclear. Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) genetic variants are nonactionable, predominantly found in people of West African ancestry, and contribute to kidney disease disparities. To inform ethical research practice, we interviewed researchers, clinicians, and African American community members (n = 76) about the potential risks and benefits of returning APOL1 research results. Stakeholders strongly supported returning APOL1 results. Benefits include reciprocity for participants, community education and rebuilding trust in research, and expectation of future actionability. Risks include analytic validity, misunderstanding, psychological burdens, stigma and discrimination, and questionable resource tradeoffs. Conclusions: APOL1 results should be offered to participants. Responsibly fulfilling this offer requires careful identification of best communication practices, broader education about the topic, and ongoing community engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Erika Blacksher
- 7284University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Center for Practical Bioethics, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | | | | | - Bessie Young
- 7284University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,20128VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Wylie Burke
- 7284University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Iltis AS, Connell A, Cooper L, Gee PO, Jefferson NM, Johnson HA, Kingston GM, Roberts GV, Scott N, Smith A, Waddy S, Woodard L, DuBois JM. Improving Kidney Disease Research in the Black Community: The Essential Role of Black Voices in the APOLLO Study. Am J Kidney Dis 2021; 79:750-753. [PMID: 34653538 DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2021.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana S Iltis
- Center for Bioethics, Health and Society, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - James M DuBois
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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10
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Doshi MD, Gordon EJ, Freedman BI, Glover C, Locke JE, Thomas CP. Integrating APOL1 Kidney-risk Variant Testing in Live Kidney Donor Evaluation: An Expert Panel Opinion. Transplantation 2021; 105:2132-2134. [PMID: 33534524 PMCID: PMC8994118 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000003641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mona D. Doshi
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Elisa J. Gordon
- Department of Surgery-Transplantation, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Barry I. Freedman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Nephrology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | | | - Jayme E. Locke
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Christie P. Thomas
- Department of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
- Department of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
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11
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Bruggeman LA, Sedor JR, O'Toole JF. Apolipoprotein L1 and mechanisms of kidney disease susceptibility. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 2021; 30:317-323. [PMID: 33767059 PMCID: PMC8211384 DOI: 10.1097/mnh.0000000000000704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Allelic variants in the gene for apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1), found only in individuals of African ancestry, explain a majority of the excess risk of kidney disease in African Americans. However, a clear understanding how the disease-associated APOL1 variants cause kidney injury and the identity of environmental stressors that trigger the injury process have not been determined. RECENT FINDINGS Basic mechanistic studies of APOL1 biochemistry and cell biology, bolstered by new antibody reagents and inducible pluripotent stem cell-derived cell systems, have focused on the cytotoxic effect of the risk variants when APOL1 gene expression is induced. Since the APOL1 variants evolved to alter a key protein-protein interaction with the trypanosome serum resistance-associated protein, additional studies have begun to address differences in APOL1 interactions with other proteins expressed in podocytes, including new observations that APOL1 variants may alter podocyte cytoskeleton dynamics. SUMMARY A unified mechanism of pathogenesis for the various APOL1 nephropathies still remains unclear and controversial. As ongoing studies have consistently implicated the pathogenic gain-of-function effects of the variant proteins, novel therapeutic development inhibiting the synthesis or function of APOL1 proteins is moving toward clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John R Sedor
- Departments of Nephrology and Inflammation & Immunity, Cleveland Clinic
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - John F O'Toole
- Departments of Nephrology and Inflammation & Immunity, Cleveland Clinic
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