This 2022 study explored the effects of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystals on non-cancerous renal cells. COM exposure induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), characterized by morphological changes to a spindle shape, decreased epithelial markers (E-cadherin, ZO-1), and increased mesenchymal markers (fibronectin, vimentin). Additionally, COM downregulated tumor suppressor genes (ARID1A, PTEN, VHL)
