Impact of APOL1 kidney risk variants on glomerular transcriptomes

McNulty and colleagues describe the glomerular transcriptional landscape of subjects with APOL1 (the gene encoding apolipoprotein L1)-associated kidney disease, using bulk RNA sequencing. They found the following: APOL1 gene expression was higher in individuals with APOL1 high-risk genetic status; in glomeruli, STC1, encoding stanniocalcin, was the most upregulated gene, and CCL18, encoding C-C motif chemokine ligand 18, was the most downregulated gene; and nuclear factor kappa BNF-κB inhibitor-interacting Ras-like 1 (NKIRAS1) is the strongest hub gene. These findings identify disease pathways that might mediate or mitigate APOL1-associated nephropathies.