Abstract
Almost every vertebrate cell has a specialized cell surface projection called a primary cilium. Although these structures were first described more than a century ago, the full scope of their functions remains poorly understood. Here, we review emerging evidence that in addition to their well-established roles in sight, smell, and mechanosensation, primary cilia are key participants in intercellular signaling. This new appreciation of primary cilia as cellular antennae that sense a wide variety of signals could help explain why ciliary defects underlie such a wide range of human disorders, including retinal degeneration, polycystic kidney disease, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, and neural tube defects.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Bardet-Biedl Syndrome / pathology
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Bardet-Biedl Syndrome / physiopathology
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Biological Evolution
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Cell Polarity
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Cilia / physiology*
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Hedgehog Proteins
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Humans
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Mechanoreceptors / physiology
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Models, Biological
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Neural Tube Defects / pathology
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Neural Tube Defects / physiopathology
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Polycystic Kidney Diseases / pathology
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Polycystic Kidney Diseases / physiopathology
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Retinal Degeneration / pathology
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Retinal Degeneration / physiopathology
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Signal Transduction*
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Smell / physiology
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Trans-Activators / metabolism
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Vision, Ocular / physiology
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Wnt Proteins / metabolism
Substances
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Hedgehog Proteins
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Trans-Activators
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Wnt Proteins