← brief for 2026-09-14 · Slowing decline

Calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals increase protein cargo loading in small extracellular vesicles secreted from renal proximal tubular epithelial cells that further induce renal fibroblast activation via endocytosis

Key takeaways

Kidney stone crystals made of calcium oxalate may do more damage than blocking the plumbing. In this lab work, kidney tubule cells exposed to these crystals released tiny bubbles called vesicles that were packed with extra protein. Nearby kidney repair cells swallowed those bubbles and switched into the active state that lays down scar tissue, and scarring is what drives kidney function down over time. This was done in cells in the lab, not in people, so it is a possible mechanism only.

Who did this work

Chadanat Noonin (Siriraj Hospital) · Visith Thongboonkerd (Siriraj Hospital)

Source

Paper · OpenAlex, CKD works · 2026-09-12
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13062-026-00978-y