A Study of Experimental Genetic Testing for the APOL1 Gene in Kidney Transplantation (APOLLO Study)

The APOLLO study is being done in an attempt to improve outcomes after kidney transplantation and to improve the safety of living kidney donation based upon variation in the apolipoprotein L1 gene (APOL1). Genes control what is inherited from a family, such as eye color or blood type. Variation in APOL1 can cause kidney disease. African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, Hispanic Blacks, and Africans are more likely to have the APOL1 gene variants that cause kidney disease. APOLLO will test DNA from kidney donors and recipients of kidney transplants for APOL1 to determine effects on kidney transplant-related outcomes.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored collaborative APOL1 Long-term Kidney Transplantation Outcomes Network (APOLLO) is charged with prospectively assessing the effects of renal-risk variants (RRVs) in the apolipoprotein L1 gene (APOL1) on outcomes for kidneys from donors with recent African ancestry and the recipients of their kidneys, after deceased- and living-donor renal transplantation. For the purposes of APOLLO, recent African ancestry is defined as individuals with similar genetic make-up to those currently residing in Africa. APOLLO will also study the impact of APOL1 RRVs on the health of living kidney donors with recent African ancestry.