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Oxalate toxicity in renal cells

Urological Research volume 33, pages 329–339 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Exposure to oxalate, a constituent of the most common form of kidney stones, generates toxic responses in renal epithelial cells, including altered membrane surface properties and cellular lipids, changes in gene expression, disruption of mitochondrial function, formation of reactive oxygen species and decreased cell viability. Oxalate exposure activates phospholipase A2 (PLA2), which increases two lipid signaling molecules, arachidonic acid and lysophosphatidylcholine (Lyso-PC). PLA2 inhibition blocks, whereas exogenous Lyso-PC or arachidonic acid reproduce many of the effects of oxalate on mitochondrial function, gene expression and cell viability, suggesting that PLA2 activation plays a role in mediating oxalate toxicity. Oxalate exposure also elicits potentially adaptive or protective changes that increase expression of proteins that may prevent crystal formation or attachment. Additional adaptive responses may facilitate removal and replacement of dead or damaged cells. The presence of different inflammatory cells and molecules in the kidneys of rats with hyperoxaluria and in stone patients suggests that inflammatory responses play roles in stone disease. Renal epithelial cells can synthesize a variety of cytokines, chemoattractants and other molecules with the potential to interface with inflammatory cells; moreover, oxalate exposure increases the synthesis of these molecules. The present studies demonstrate that oxalate exposure upregulates cyclooxygenase-2, which catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of prostanoids, compounds derived from arachidonic acid that can modify crystal binding and may also influence inflammation. In addition, renal cell oxalate exposure promotes rapid degradation of IκBα, an endogenous inhibitor of the NF-κB transcription factor. A similar response is observed following renal cell exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a bacterial cell wall component that activates toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). While TLRs are primarily associated with immune cells, they are also found on many other cell types, including renal epithelial cells, suggesting that TLR signaling could directly impact renal function. Prior exposure of renal epithelial cells to oxalate in vitro produces endotoxin tolerance, i.e. a loss of responsiveness to LPS and conversely, prior exposure to LPS elicits a similar heterologous desensitization to oxalate. Renal cell desensitization to oxalate stimulation may have profound effects on the outcome of renal stone disease by impairing protective responses.

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Acknowledgements

Supported by NIHDK 43184. The authors express appreciation to Sarah Kenward, Kathryn Gravel, Rachel Cooney and Lori Kennington, and also to the Flow Cytometry Core Facility at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, for their technical assistance.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA

    Julie A. Jonassen & Cheryl R. Scheid

  2. Department of Urology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama City, Wakayama 641-8509, Japan

    Yasuo Kohjimoto

  3. Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA

    Madelyn Schmidt

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  1. Julie A. Jonassen
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  2. Yasuo Kohjimoto
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  3. Cheryl R. Scheid
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Correspondence to Julie A. Jonassen.

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Jonassen, J.A., Kohjimoto, Y., Scheid, C.R. et al. Oxalate toxicity in renal cells. Urol Res 33, 329–339 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-005-0485-3

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Keywords

  • Kidney
  • Oxalate
  • Phospholipase A2
  • Lysophosphatidylcholine
  • Toll-like receptors
  • Cyclooxygenase