Mohsen Akhavan Sepahi
1 
, LVKS Bhaskar
2,3, Audrey Tolouian
4 , Ramin Tolouian
5*1 Department of Pediatric Nephrology, School of Medicine and Pediatric Clinical Research of Development Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
2 Sickle Cell Institute Chhattisgarh, Raipur (CG), India
3 Department of Zoology, Guru Ghasidas University, Bilaspur, 495009 (CG), India
4 The University of Texas at El Paso, School of Nursing, El Paso, TX, USA
5 Division of Nephrology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
Abstract
Genetic variants of apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) have been recognized as a risk factor for
kidney disease in people of African ancestry. APOL1 mediate renal damage in podocytes
through necrosis, apoptosis and pyroptosis processes. APOL1 gene contains G1 and G2
alleles that mediate in increasing risk of renal disorders in African Americans. People
who carry APOL1 risk alleles have a three to four-fold increase risk for non-diabetic renal
disease (NDRD), Idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and HIV-associated
nephropathy (HIVAN). Therefore, identifying genetic factors involved in the pathogenesis of
renal disorders, including APOL1 risk variants, may help to improve our understanding of
kidney problems.
Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:
Apolipoprotein L1 risk variants are more common in some races. Apolipoprotein L1 risk variants are involved in various CKDs.
The APOL1 involves necrosis, apoptosis and pyroptosis processes in various types of kidney cells including podocytes.
Please cite this paper as: Akhavan Sepahi M, Bhaskar LVKS, Tolouian A, Tolouian R. Apolipoprotein L1 associated nephropathy;
an overview. J Renal Inj Prev. 2019; 8(4): 311-315. DOI: 10.15171/jrip.2019.57.