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Primary Cilia: Cellular Sensors for the Skeleton
Author(s) -
Anderson Charles T.,
Castillo Alesha B.,
Brugmann Samantha A.,
Helms Jill A.,
Jacobs Christopher R.,
Stearns Tim
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the anatomical record: advances in integrative anatomy and evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1932-8494
pISSN - 1932-8486
DOI - 10.1002/ar.20754
Subject(s) - cilium , skeleton (computer programming) , primary (astronomy) , biology , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology , physics , astronomy
The primary cilium is a solitary, immotile cilium that is present in almost every mammalian cell type. Primary cilia are thought to function as chemosensors, mechanosensors, or both, depending on cell type, and have been linked to several developmental signaling pathways. Primary cilium malfunction has been implicated in several human diseases, the symptoms of which include vision and hearing loss, polydactyly, and polycystic kidneys. Recently, primary cilia have also been implicated in the development and homeostasis of the skeleton. In this review, we discuss the structure and formation of the primary cilium and some of the mechanical and chemical signals to which it could be sensitive, with a focus on skeletal biology. We also raise several unanswered questions regarding the role of primary cilia as mechanosensors and chemosensors and identify potential research avenues to address these questions. Anat Rec, 291:1074–1078, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.