Two APOL1 gene variants, which likely evolved to protect individuals from African sleeping
sickness, are strongly associated with nondiabetic kidney disease in individuals with recent
African ancestry. Consistent with its role in trypanosome killing, the pro-death APOL1 protein
is toxic to most cells, but its mechanism of cell death is poorly understood and little is known
regarding its intracellular trafficking and secretion. Because the liver appears to be the main
source of circulating APOL1, we examined its secretory behavior and mechanism of toxicity …