Effects of calcium oxalate crystals on neutrophil cellular proteome and functions: implications for nephrolithiasis

Abstract Background The majority of stone formers (87.5–95.9%) exhibit mild to moderate interstitial inflammation surrounding the stone. Neutrophils and neutrophil-derived genes/proteins have been found in renal papillae, stone matrix and urine of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) stone formers. How...

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Main Authors: Chanettee Lertprapai, Paleerath Peerapen, Visith Thongboonkerd
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Cell Communication and Signaling
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-025-02345-2
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Summary:Abstract Background The majority of stone formers (87.5–95.9%) exhibit mild to moderate interstitial inflammation surrounding the stone. Neutrophils and neutrophil-derived genes/proteins have been found in renal papillae, stone matrix and urine of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) stone formers. However, neutrophil-crystal interactions, especially responses of neutrophils to COM crystals, remained unknown. Methods This study addressed the effects of COM crystals on neutrophil cellular proteome and functions, including phagocytosis, activation/degranulation, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Results Label-free quantitative (LFQ) proteomics using nanoLC-ESI-Qq-TOF MS/MS with highly stringent criteria revealed that COM caused altered levels of 22 neutrophil proteins involved mainly in immune responses. Investigating neutrophil innate immune functions using flow cytometry, immunofluorescence/fluorescence imaging, ELISA and dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay revealed that COM enhanced neutrophil phagocytic activity, NETs formation, activation/degranulation and ROS production. Moreover, secretome (a set of secretory products) from COM-treated neutrophils induced the recruitment of macrophages to phagocytose the COM-treated neutrophils. Conclusions These findings illustrate the expression and functional responses of neutrophils to COM crystals and implicate the important roles that neutrophils play in nephrolithiasis.
ISSN:1478-811X