A 19-Amino-Acid Peptide Copied From ICOSL Reduces Protein in the Urine and Protects Kidney Filter Cells in Mice
Researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch, Rush University Medical Center, and partners in Germany reported in Molecular Biomedicine on October 9, 2026 a 19-amino-acid peptide, hICOSL-19, based on the immune protein ICOSL, that blocks αvβ3 integrin, a receptor whose overactivity damages podocytes, the cells that form the kidney's filter. A longer-lasting PEGylated version reduced protein in the urine, limited kidney damage, and preserved podocyte structure in mouse models of immune-mediated glomerulonephritis and diabetic kidney disease, without signs of T-cell activation or anti-drug antibodies. The results are from mice and cells.