Abstract
The Apolipoprotein L1 gene (APOL1) has two risk variants crucial for innate immunity against pathogens, such as Trypanosoma and HIV. Still, it is also linked to diseases like preterm birth, pre-eclampsia, cardiovascular diseases, and systemic lupus erythematosus, which are often worsened by environmental factors or infections called "second hits." Kidney disease appears in adolescents and young adults with risk alleles, increasing the risk of kidney failure. No current treatment exists for APOL1 nephropathy. These variants are absent in individuals of Indian descent despite a history of migrations. The review highlights the role of genetics and epigenetics in APOL1 research and screening, with a focus on the absence of risk alleles in the Indian population.
Keywords
APOL1, ESRD, Genetics, Epigenetics, G1 and G2 variants