UC research could help reduce disease incidence in organ donors

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati are among the first to adopt genotyping that helps identify and predict the risk accompanying individuals wishing to donate a kidney. Those who are high-risk of developing disease can be removed from the pool of potential donors which will reduce their chances of developing kidney disease.

One of the key methods for improving the rate of kidney transplantation is improving the viability of organ donation. While encouraging the expansion of living kidney transplant programs, it is important that health care providers follow procedures that mitigate the negative health consequences for the donors themselves.

The focus of UC’s research is a gene called apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1), which has been recently implicated in the development of kidney disease in African Americans. Thirteen percent of African Americans carry the high-risk APOL1 genotype and, as a result, are more predisposed to kidney failure.

“Discovering this gene allows us to determine whether individuals who step forward to donate are at risk for having kidney disease,” says Bassam Abu Jawdeh, associate professor of clinical medicine in the Division of Nephrology, Kidney C.A.R.E. Program, and senior author of the study that examined the role of APOL1 in living kidney donation. “We can factor in this information when making our decision as to whether we’re going to accept them as living donors or not.”

This research is emblematic of the urban impact agenda highlighted in UC’s Next Lives Here strategic direction.

He says the reason for this small increase in kidney disease incidence is a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Abu Jawdeh also emphasizes that organ donors are volunteering precious organs so steps need to be taken to ensure their generous act doesn’t negatively impact their own lives.

“As transplant specialists, it is our responsibility to find ways to optimize the health of donors, which includes protecting them from occurrence of kidney disease. By identifying high-risk genotype carriers, we are able to better counsel those who wish to donate,” says Abu Jawdeh, who is also a UC Health physician. “We have even shown that universal APOL1 genotyping is likely cost-effective, however future larger studies are warranted to ascertain the favorable cost-benefit ratio of this approach.”

The study also included contributions from Manish Anand, assistant professor, and Prakash Gudsoorkar, nephrology fellow, both in the Division of Nephrology, Kidney C.A.R.E. program in the UC College of Medicine. Abu Jawdeh is the principal investigator for the APOL1 Long-term Kidney Transplantation Outcomes Network for all three Cincinnati transplant programs (UC, Cincinnati Children’s and Christ Hospitals). For that, he receives federal funding from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (U01).

Featured image at top of APOL1 gene courtesy of Kidney News.