Disclosed are methods of treating kidney disease, infectious or inflammatory diseases, acute kidney injury and hypertension by administering a (pro)renin receptor (PRR) antagonist. In some instances the PRR antagonist is a polypeptide. The PRR antagonist can be a polypeptide having at least 70% identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2. Also disclosed are methods of decreasing proteinuria and methods of promoting wound healing by administering a PRR antagonist.