There is provided a method for promoting dynamin ring formation and/or maintenance of dynamin rings in a cell, comprising treating the cell with an effective amount of a dynamin ring stabilizer, or a prodrug or pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the dynamin ring stabilizer. The maintenance or accumulation of dynamin ring formation has particular application in the prophylaxis or treatment of a kidney disease or condition characterized by proteinuria. A dynamin ring stabilizer can be any agent that interacts with dynamin to promote dynamin ring assembly and/or inhibit dynamin ring disassembly. There are also provided methods for prophylaxis or treatment of podocyte dysfunction and/or maintaining or inducing actin cytoskeleton formation in a cell utilizing dynamin ring stabilizers, and for screening a test agent for use as a dynamin ring stabilizer.
