Dietary Oxalate and Immune Cell Function

Inflammation and dietary oxalate have been shown to play an important role in the development of kidney stones. Oxalate is a small molecule found in plants and plant-derived food. Individuals that have high oxalate intake have an increased risk of developing kidney stones. The co-investigators have previously shown that healthy subjects that consume dietary oxalate have increased plasma and urine oxalate. White blood cells are essential for the immune response and rely on the mitochondria to carry out important cell functions. The Principal Investigator's current research shows that patients with calcium oxalate kidney stones have decreased mitochondrial function in their immune cells. Using the expertise of the investigators, this study will test whether oxalate has a direct effect on mitochondrial function in immune cells from healthy subjects. This information could help us understand the role of oxalate on the immune system during kidney stone pathogenesis.