Sensory Cilia and integration of signal transduction in human health and disease

Søren T. Christensen, Lotte B. Pedersen, Linda Schneider, Peter Satir

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

206 Scopus citations

Abstract

The primary cilium is a hallmark of mammalian tissue cells. Recent research has shown that these organelles display unique sets of selected signal transduction modules including receptors, ion channels, effector proteins and transcription factors that relay chemical and physical stimuli from the extracellular environment in order to control basic cellular processes during embryonic and postnatal development, as well as in tissue homeostasis in adulthood. Consequently, defects in building of the cilium or in transport or function of ciliary signal proteins are associated with a series of pathologies, including developmental disorders and cancer. In this review, we highlight recent examples of the mechanisms by which signal components are selectively targeted and transported to the ciliary membrane and we present an overview of the signal transduction pathways associated with primary and motile cilia in vertebrate cells, including platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFRα), hedgehog and Wnt signaling pathways. Finally, we discuss the functions of these cilia-associated signal transduction pathways and their role in human health and development.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)97-109
Number of pages13
JournalTraffic
Volume8
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2007

Keywords

  • Cell survival
  • Centrioles
  • Centrosomes
  • Development
  • Differentiation
  • Growth control
  • IFT
  • Migration
  • Motile cilia
  • Pathology
  • Patterning
  • Primary cilia
  • Sensory organelles
  • Tissue homeotasis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Structural Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Sensory Cilia and integration of signal transduction in human health and disease'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this