Abstract: A glomerulus on a chip (GOAC) to recapitulate the human glomerular filtration barrier, the structure responsible for filtering the blood and preventing the loss of proteins, is provided using human podocytes and glomerular endothelial cells seeded into microfluidic chips. In long-term cultures, cells maintain their morphology, form capillary-like structures and express slit diaphragm proteins. This system recapitulates functions and structure of the glomerulus, including permselectivity. When exposed to sera from patients with anti-podocyte autoantibodies, the chips show albuminuria proportional to patients' proteinuria, phenomenon not observed with sera from healthy controls or individuals with primary podocyte defects. Also shown is its applicability for renal disease modeling and drug testing.

Abstract: A dietary composition and method for treating kidney damage and/or disease with a fasting-mimicking diet is provided. The method includes a step of identifying a subject having kidney damage. A low sodium fasting-mimicking diet with a specific dietary composition is administered to the subject for a first time period of 1 to 10 days.

Abstract: A glomerulus on a chip (GOAC) to recapitulate the human glomerular filtration barrier, the structure responsible for filtering the blood and preventing the loss of proteins, is provided using human podocytes and glomerular endothelial cells seeded into microfluidic chips. In long-term cultures, cells maintain their morphology, form capillary-like structures and express slit diaphragm proteins. This system recapitulates functions and structure of the glomerulus, including permselectivity. When exposed to sera from patients with anti-podocyte autoantibodies, the chips show albuminuria proportional to patients' proteinuria, phenomenon not observed with sera from healthy controls or individuals with primary podocyte defects. Also shown is its applicability for renal disease modeling and drug testing.

Abstract: Compositions and methods to treat or prevent disease or injury comprising administering an effective amount of extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from stern cells to a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to amniotic fluid derived renal progenitor cells positive for CD24 and OB-cadherin and subpopulations thereof, as well as methods of isolating and uses thereof. The invention is further directed to preventing and treating kidney damage with a population of amniotic fluid derived c-kit positive stem cells.