APOL1 Gene Kidney Risk Variants and Cardiovascular Disease: Getting to the Heart of the Matter

Apolipoprotein L1 gene (APOL1) renal risk variants exhibit strong genetic associations with a spectrum of nondiabetic kidney diseases in individuals with recent African ancestry. Relationships between APOL1 kidney risk variants and cardiovascular disease (CVD) susceptibility and CVD-related death remain controversial. Some studies detected an increased risk for CVD, whereas others support protection from death and subclinical CVD and cerebrovascular disease. Because treatments for nondiabetic kidney disease may target this gene and its protein products, it remains critical to clarify the potential extrarenal effects of APOL1 kidney risk variants. This review addresses the current literature on APOL1 associations with CVD, cerebrovascular disease, and death. Potential causes of disparate results between studies are discussed.