Life-Saver or Undertaker: The Relationship between Primary Cilia and Cell Death in Vertebrate Embryonic Development

Abstract

The development of multicellular organisms requires a tightly coordinated network of cellular processes and intercellular signalling. For more than 20 years, it has been known that primary cilia are deeply involved in the mediation of intercellular signalling and that ciliary dysfunction results in severe developmental defects. Cilia-mediated signalling regulates cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, migration, etc. Another cellular process ensuring proper embryonic development is cell death. While the effect of cilia-mediated signalling on many cellular processes has been extensively studied, the relationship between primary cilia and cell death remains largely unknown. This article provides a short review on the current knowledge about this relationship.

Ciliated, Mitochondria-Rich Postmitotic Cells are Immune-privileged, and Mimic Immunosuppressive Microenvironment of Tumor-Initiating Stem Cells: From Molecular Anatomy to Molecular Pathway

“…Since primary cilia in PoMiCs are not necessary to prevent cell cycle re-entry, the main question is whether cilia have any specific function in these cells. Except for comprising the survival of cells under stress, primary cilia have no proven critical function outside the embryonic process [26]. Primary cilia appear to be necessary for cells that re-enter the cell cycle to replace necrotic or apoptotic cells (such as after ischemia or toxic insults) to stop proliferative responses and resume tissue-specific tasks [27] (Fig.…”