The APOL1 gene encodes an apoplipoprotein that binds to apolipoprotein A1 and is common in hight density lipoprotein particles. It plays an important role in lipid metabolism. Genetic variations are associated with resistance to trypanosoma brucei infections and prediposition to FSGS type 4.
The two APOL1 variants G1 and G2 are common among Subsaharan Africans. The incidence there is 1:13-15. This hight frequency is explained by a protection against Trypanosoma infections. Interestingly the frequency in East Africa, in particular Ethiopia, with mere 5% is significantly lower though Trypanosoma infections are endemic there too. Among Caucasians and Asians the frequency is very low.[Error: Macro 'ref' doesn't exist]
Carrier of one oth the APOL1 variants G1 or G2 have a five fold increased risk of albuminuria. The anual decline in glomerular filtration rate is 0,45% faster.[Error: Macro 'ref' doesn't exist]
Aside of the two risk alleles G1 and G2 no other mutations are described in the APOL1 gene so far.
The G1 (NM_145343.2:[c.1072A>G,c.1200T>G]) and the G2 (NM_145343.2:c.1212_1217delTTATAA) alleles show a higher susceptibility to chronic kidney disease based on FSGS while at the same time these alleles seem protective against human African trypanosomiasis.
Clinic | Method | Carrier testing |
Turnaround | 5 days | |
Specimen type | genomic DNA |
Clinic | Method | Massive parallel sequencing |
Turnaround | 25 days | |
Specimen type | genomic DNA |
Clinic | Method | Genomic sequencing of the entire coding region |
Turnaround | 25 days | |
Specimen type | genomic DNA |
Clinic | Method | Target mutation analysis |
Turnaround | 20 days | |
Specimen type | genomic DNA |
1. |
Ko WY et al. (2013) Identifying Darwinian Selection Acting on Different Human APOL1 Variants among Diverse African Populations. |
2. |
Limou S et al. (2014) APOL1 kidney risk alleles: population genetics and disease associations. |
3. |
Tzur S et al. (2010) Missense mutations in the APOL1 gene are highly associated with end stage kidney disease risk previously attributed to the MYH9 gene. |
4. |
Peralta CA et al. (2016) APOL1 Genotype and Race Differences in Incident Albuminuria and Renal Function Decline. |
5. |
Gutiérrez OM et al. (2016) APOL1 nephropathy risk variants are associated with altered high-density lipoprotein profiles in African Americans. |
6. |
Ma L et al. (2016) APOL1 renal-risk genotypes associate with longer hemodialysis survival in prevalent nondiabetic African American patients with end-stage renal disease. |
7. |
Chen TK et al. (2016) The evolving science of apolipoprotein-L1 and kidney disease. |
8. |
Sampson MG et al. (2016) Integrative Genomics Identifies Novel Associations with APOL1 Risk Genotypes in Black NEPTUNE Subjects. |
9. |
Freedman BI et al. (2016) APOL1 renal-risk variants associate with reduced cerebral white matter lesion volume and increased gray matter volume. |
11. |
Genovese G et al. (2010) Association of trypanolytic ApoL1 variants with kidney disease in African Americans. |
12. |
Pérez-Morga D et al. (2005) Apolipoprotein L-I promotes trypanosome lysis by forming pores in lysosomal membranes. |
13. |
Vanhamme L et al. (2003) Apolipoprotein L-I is the trypanosome lytic factor of human serum. |
14. |
Monajemi H et al. (2002) The apolipoprotein L gene cluster has emerged recently in evolution and is expressed in human vascular tissue. |
16. |
Page NM et al. (2001) The human apolipoprotein L gene cluster: identification, classification, and sites of distribution. |
17. |
Duchateau PN et al. (2001) Apolipoprotein L gene family: tissue-specific expression, splicing, promoter regions; discovery of a new gene. |
18. |
Reidy KJ et al. (2018) Fetal-Not Maternal-APOL1 Genotype Associated with Risk for Preeclampsia in Those with African Ancestry. |
19. |
Friedman DJ et al. (2021) APOL1 Nephropathy: From Genetics to Clinical Applications. |
20. |
OMIM.ORG article Omim 603743 |
21. |
Orphanet article Orphanet ID 240672 |
22. |
NCBI article NCBI 8542 |
23. |
Wikipedia article Wikipedia EN (Apolipoprotein_L1) |