How APOL1 gene activity leads to kidney damage
Integrating signals that control APOL1 gene expression and drive kidney disease
This project looks at how APOL1 gene variants and infections like HIV or COVID-19 can trigger kidney damage in people of African ancestry.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11257325 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying how two APOL1 gene variants common in people of African ancestry interact with inflammatory triggers to cause kidney injury. They will examine how the APOL1 messenger RNA’s 3′-UTR structures and microRNA control APOL1 levels, and how double‑stranded RNA signals and the ADAR enzyme shape inflammation. The team uses molecular and cellular experiments informed by known environmental “second hits” such as HIV, therapeutic interferon, and COVID‑19. Understanding this balance of activation and suppression aims to explain why only some people with the high‑risk genotype develop disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People of African ancestry who carry two high‑risk APOL1 variants or who have HIV/COVID‑related kidney problems would be most relevant to future clinical work based on these findings.
Not a fit: Patients without APOL1 risk variants or whose kidney disease has unrelated causes are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets to prevent or treat APOL1‑related kidney disease by modulating RNA regulation or inflammatory pathways.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked APOL1 risk variants and infections to higher kidney disease risk, but focusing on 3′-UTR regulation, microRNA control, and ADAR editing is a newer, more mechanistic direction.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pollak, Martin R. — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Pollak, Martin R.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.