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Kidney stones

Macrophages clean out the tubules

Nature Reviews Nephrology volume 20, page 155 (2024)Cite this article

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Urine supersaturation can lead to intraluminal accumulation of mineral crystals and kidney stone formation. A study by Xiao Z. Shen and colleagues now shows how juxtatubular macrophages keep these particles in check.

The transepithelial protrusions retracted and contracted, suggesting luminal sampling. Accordingly, medullary macrophages had acquired kidney-filtered fluorescent sinistrin 60 min after it was injected intravenously. Fluorescent inert latex beads injected into the kidney pelvis also accumulated in the collecting ducts and were mostly cleared from the lumen after 12 h. Moreover, the researchers found evidence of juxtatubular macrophage transmigration into the lumen of collecting ducts, including the presence of bead-containing macrophages in urine collected directly from the kidney pelvis. Bead clearance was compromised in macrophage-depleted mice, which also had increased stone formation and inflammation in a chronic hyperoxaluria model, further supporting a protective role for these innate immune cells.

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References

Original article

  • He, J. et al. Renal macrophages monitor and remove particles from urine to prevent tubule obstruction. Immunity 57, 106–123.e7 (2023)

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  1. Nature Reviews Nephrology http://www.nature.com/nrneph

    Monica Wang

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  1. Monica Wang
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Correspondence to Monica Wang.

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Wang, M. Macrophages clean out the tubules. Nat Rev Nephrol 20, 155 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-024-00816-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-024-00816-2

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