Effect of Empagliflozin on Podocyte Specific Proteins in African American Veterans With NDKD

Primary Objective: To study podocyte specific injury markers in African American Veterans with non-diabetic kidney disease (NDKD), on empagliflozin therapy. Primary Endpoint: We will assess the effect of Empagliflozin on podocyte-specific proteins in exosomes isolated from subjects' urine, such as nephrin, podocalyxin and Wilms'Tumor (WT-1) protein. Secondary Objectives: 1. Correlate changes in exosome-based podocyte specific proteins with standardized biomarkers of kidney injury including urine albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) and estimated GFR. 2. Correlate systemic inflammatory markers (focusing on vascular and endothelial function) that are already established such as interleukins (IL1, IL6, IL-12) , hs-CRP and arterial stiffness measures with urine exosome-based podocyte protein estimation \[11, 27-29\]. 3. Correlate urine podocyte-specific protein markers with APOL1 mRNA expression levels in blood mononuclear cells (MNC)