Ashira Blazer, MD, MS
Hospital for Special Surgery
New York, NY, United States
Disclosure(s): GlaxoSmithKlein(GSK): Consultant (Ongoing); Janssen: Consultant (Ongoing); Ucb: Consultant (Terminated, October 7, 2022)
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is more prevalent and severe in African Americans, who suffer disproportionately from kidney and cardiovascular comorbidities. Approximately 13% of those with recent West and Central African ancestry carry two coding variants in the Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) gene, which have been associated with adverse kidney and cardiovascular outcomes. These variants have been evolutionarily conserved due to a survival advantage in resisting Trypanosoma Brucei, the parasite that causes African Sleeping Sickness. Interestingly, the penetrance of the APOL1 high risk genotype, defined as two variant APOL1 alleles in any combination, is highly contingent upon chronic infections or inflammatory “second hits.” In this lecture, I will discuss the interaction between immune activation and APOL1 high risk genotype in SLE. I will explore the differences in SLE phenotypes and outcomes in clinical SLE as well as underpinning pathophysiologic cellular mechanisms.
Speaker: Ashira Blazer, MD, MS – Hospital for Special Surgery
