While the association between APOL1 variants and kidney disease has been confirmed for nephropathies of differing etiologies, including focal segmental glomerulosclerosis [1, 5], HIV-associated nephropathy [5], hypertension-attributed end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) [1], severe lupus nephritis [6], and chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression [7], the biological mechanism by which APOL1 variants influence renal function has not been elucidated. Here, APOL1 is linked to chronic kidney disease.