Crystals cause acute necrotic cell death in renal proximal tubule cells, but not in collecting tubule cells

This study shows that calcium oxalate crystals cause acute inflammation-mediated necrotic cell death in renal proximal tubular cells, but not in collecting tubule cells. The crystal-induced generation of reactive oxygen species by renal tubular cells is a general response to tissue damage and the increased levels of DNA synthesis seem to reflect regeneration rather than growth stimulation. As long as the renal collecting ducts are not obstructed with crystals, these results do not support an important role for crystal-induced tissue injury in the pathophysiology of calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis.