Immune cells play a critical role in protecting against kidney stone formation. This has been shown by a study published in the journal. Immunity.
In some pathologies, urine may contain proteins and inflammatory cells. When they get stuck in the tubules, they block the flow of urine, leading to kidney damage.
In the new study, scientists observed specific immune cells called kidney macrophages in real time using high-resolution microscopy. They found that macrophages play a direct role in renal clearance by surrounding intratubular particles and facilitating their elimination.
The observations were confirmed by experiments. Glowing latex beads were injected into the kidneys of mice. After 12 hours, balls were almost absent in the lumen of the tubules in healthy mice. However, in mice lacking kidney macrophages, pellets were observed even after 36 hours.
This result suggests that routinely flushing the kidneys with large amounts of urine alone may not effectively remove large particles and prevent stone formation, but this strategy is frequently used in patients. The research will enable the development of drugs that will effectively prevent kidney stone formation.
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