Conclusions
Higher medullary calcification stimulated accumulation of proinflammatory rather than anti-inflammatory macrophages in stone formers.
Results
Calcification in the medulla of stone formers was higher than in nonstone formers (P<0.001). M1 macrophages in the cortex and medulla of stone formers were greater than in nonstone formers (P<0.001), and greater in stone former medulla than stone former cortex (P=0.02). There were no differences in age, sex, body mass index, tumor characteristics (size, stage, or thrombus), vascular disease status, or eGFR between the groups. M2 macrophages, T lymphocytes, and mast cells did not differ by stone former status. There was a correlation between M1 macrophages and calcification in the medulla of stone formers (rho=0.48; P=0.001) and between M2 macrophages and calcification in the medulla of nonstone formers (rho=0.35; P=0.001). T lymphocytes were correlated with calcification in the cortex of both nonstone formers (rho=0.27; P=0.01) and stone formers (rho=0.42; P=0.004), whereas mast cells and calcification were correlated only in the cortex of stone formers (rho=0.35; P=0.02). Conclusions: Higher medullary calcification stimulated accumulation of proinflammatory rather than anti-inflammatory macrophages in stone formers.