Kidney macrophages tap the stream

Tissue-resident macrophages are essential for maintaining organismal homeostasis, but the precise mechanisms that macrophages use to perform this function are not fully understood. In this issue of Immunity, He et al. demonstrate that renal macrophages surveil and sample urine particles, ensuring optimal collecting duct flow and preventing kidney stone development. Tissue-resident macrophages are essential for maintaining organismal homeostasis, but the precise mechanisms that macrophages use to perform this function are not fully understood. In this issue of Immunity, He et al. demonstrate that renal macrophages surveil and sample urine particles, ensuring optimal collecting duct flow and preventing kidney stone development. Renal macrophages monitor and remove particles from urine to prevent tubule obstructionHe et al.ImmunityDecember 29, 2023In BriefDislodging kidney intratubular particles is critical to ensure the free flow of urine. Although urine can help flush out particles, whether other mechanisms exist is unclear. He et al. find that renal medulla macrophages constitutively sample urine content and remove intratubular particles via transepithelial behaviors. Loss of these macrophages results in increased intratubular sediments, including kidney stones. Full-Text PDF