title: Pathogenesis of nephrolithiasis: recent insight from cell biology and renal pathology.
abstract: Randall's plaques are very common in idiopathic calcium-oxalate nephrolithiasis. These papillary plaques have an apatite mineral structure. While these calcium deposits are generally assumed to be secondary to a purely physico-chemical phenomenon, we advance the hypothesis that they form due to a truly ectopic biomineralization in the renal tissue, and that Henle's loop epithelial cells, or pericyte-like interstitial cells, or papillary stem cells differentiating along a bone lineage might be involved.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Dept. of Biomedical and Surgical Sciences, University of Verona.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gambaro
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabris
authors.forename: Cataldo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abaterusso
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cosaro
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ceol
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mezzabotta
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Torregrossa
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tiralongo
authors.forename: Dorella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Del Prete
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Anglani