The General Hospital Corporation

University of Miami

Rush University Medical Center

Emory University

The General Hospital Corporation D/b/a Massachusetts General Hospital

Jochen Reiser

Sanja Sever

Vineet Gupta

Arshed A Quyyumi

Salim Hayek

Tristan Hays

Eunsil Hahm

Yanxia Cao

Methods and compositions for treating acute kidney injury in a subject are provided. The methods include measuring or having measured a level of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) in a biological sample from the subject, determining or having determined the level of suPAR in the sample compared to a control suPAR level, and administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that antagonizes soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) to the subject having an elevated level of suPAR relative to the control suPAR level.

suPAR and prediction and treatment of acute kidney injury

Methods treating an aberrant activation of αvβ integrin are provided. The methods include administering a therapeutically effective amount of inducible co-stimulator ligand (ICOSL) polypeptide to a subject in need thereof. Methods of identifying subjects having a kidney injury are also provided.

ICOSL for use as a renal therapeutic

The following disclosure generally relates to methods of culturing podocytes in vitro. The cultures can be used for drug screening (such as medium or high throughput drug screening), and for studying molecular pathways involved in glomerular diseases. The disclosure also provides methods for analyzing the healthiness of podocytes in a cell culture. The disclosure also relates to diagnosis of kidney diseases.

Podocyte cultures and uses thereof

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a common cause of proteinuric kidney disease, which comprises both native and transplanted kidneys. Treatment was limited in the past due to the complicated pathogenesis of FSGS, including previously unidentified serum factors. Here, serum soluble urokinase receptor (suPAR) is reported to be elevated in FSGS patients but not in patients with other primary glomerular diseases. Higher pre-transplantation suPAR levels are associated with risk for FSGS recurrence in kidney grafts. Renal disease only develops when suPAR sufficiently activates podocyte &#x3b2;3 integrin. Thus, disease pathogenesis can be stopped or slowed by ex vivo removal of suPAR from a subject's circulation. Removal may be measured by comparing the level (e.g., amount or concentration) of suPAR before and after such treatment.

Reducing soluble urokinase receptor in the circulation

The present invention is directed to methods of treating proteinuric diseases by the administration of av&#x3b2;3 integrin inhibitors.

Methods and compositions for the treatment of proteinuric diseases

Compositions are directed to the treatment of kidney diseases in a cell-specific manner. Methods of treating kidney diseases comprise the use of the compositions. Assays for identification of further compounds are provided. Biomarkers for predisposition to kidney diseases and diagnosis are indentified.

Podocyte pH modulation and uses thereof

This invention relates generally to the treatment of cathepsin or dynamin mediated diseases, such as proteinuria, cancer, and cognitive disease and related products. Diagnostic and other assays are also provided, as well as methods for podocyte cell gene transfer.

Growing community of inventors

Miami, FL, United States of America

Jochen Reiser