Dysfunctional cilia lead to altered ependyma and choroid plexus function, and result in the formation of hydrocephalus

Cilia are complex organelles involved in sensory perception and fluid or cell movement. They are constructed through a highly conserved process called intraflagellar transport (IFT). Mutations in IFT genes, such as Tg737, result in severe developmental defects and disease. In the case of the Tg737orpk mutants, these pathological alterations include cystic kidney disease, biliary and pancreatic duct abnormalities, skeletal patterning defects, and hydrocephalus. Here, we explore the connection between cilia dysfunction and the development of hydrocephalus by using the Tg737orpk mutants. Our analysis indicates that cilia on cells of the brain ventricles of Tg737orpk mutant mice are severely malformed. On the ependymal cells, these defects lead to disorganized beating and impaired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) movement. However, the loss of the cilia beat and CSF flow is not the initiating factor, as the pathology is present prior to the development of motile cilia on these cells and CSF flow is not impaired at early stages of the disease. Rather, our results suggest that loss of cilia leads to altered function of the choroid plexus epithelium, as evidenced by elevated intracellular cAMP levels and increased chloride concentration in the CSF. These data suggest that cilia function is necessary for regulating ion transport and CSF production, as well as for CSF flow through the ventricles.     

Primary cilia regulates the directional migration and barrier integrity of endothelial cells through the modulation of hsp27 dependent actin cytoskeletal organization

Cilia are mechanosensing organelles that communicate extracellular signals into intracellular responses. Altered functions of primary cilia play a key role in the development of various diseases including polycystic kidney disease. Here, we show that endothelial cells from the oak ridge polycystic kidney (Tg737(orpk/orpk) ) mouse, with impaired cilia assembly, exhibit a reduction in the actin stress fibers and focal adhesions compared to wild-type (WT). In contrast, endothelial cells from polycystin-1 deficient mice (pkd1(null/null) ), with impaired cilia function, display robust stress fibers, and focal adhesion assembly. We found that the Tg737(orpk/orpk) cells exhibit impaired directional migration and endothelial cell monolayer permeability compared to the WT and pkd1(null/null) cells. Finally, we found that the expression of heat shock protein 27 (hsp27) and the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) are downregulated in the Tg737(orpk/orpk) cells and overexpression of hsp27 restored both FAK phosphorylation and cell migration. Taken together, these results demonstrate that disruption of the primary cilia structure or function compromises the endothelium through the suppression of hsp27 dependent actin organization and focal adhesion formation, which may contribute to the vascular dysfunction in ciliopathies.     

Intramanchette transport (IMT): managing the making of the spermatid head,centrosome, and tail

Intramanchette transport (IMT) and intraflagellar transport (IFT) share similar molecular components: a raft protein complex transporting cargo proteins mobilized along microtubules by molecular motors. IFT, initially discovered in flagella of Chlamydomonas, has been also observed in cilia of the worm Caenorhabditis elegans and in mouse ciliated and flagellated cells. IFT has been defined as the mechanism by which protein raft components (also called IFT particles) are displaced between the flagellum and the plasma membrane in the anterograde direction by kinesin-II and in the retrograde direction by cytoplasmic dynein 1b. Mutation of the gene Tg737, encoding one of the components of the raft protein complex, designated Polaris in the mouse and IFT88 in both Chlamydomonas and mouse, results in defective ciliogenesis and flagellar development as well as asymmetry in left-right axis determination. Polaris/IFT88 is detected in the manchette of mouse and rat spermatids. Indications of an IMT mechanism originated from the finding that two proteins associated with the manchette (Sak57/K5 and TBP-1, the latter a component of the 26S proteasome) repositioned to the centrosome and sperm tail once the manchette disassembled. IMT has the features of the IFT machinery but, in addition, facilitates nucleocytoplasmic exchange activities during spermiogenesis. An example is Ran, a small GTPase present in the nucleus and cytoplasm of round spermatids and in the manchette of elongating spermatids. Upon disassembly of the manchette, Ran GTPase is found in the centrosome region of elongating spermatids. Because defective molecular motors and raft proteins result in defective flagella, cilia, and cilia-containing photoreceptor cells in the retina, IMT and IFT are emerging as essential mechanisms for managing critical aspects of sperm development. Details of specific role of Ran GTPase in nucleocytoplasmic transport and its relocation from the manchette to the centrosome to the sperm tail await elucidation.     

Heightened epithelial Na+ channel-mediated Na+ absorption in a murine polycystic kidney disease model epithelium lacking apical monocilia

The Tg737°^rpk autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) mouse carries a hypomorphic mutation in the Tg737 gene. Because of the absence of its protein product Polaris, the nonmotile primary monocilium central to the luminal membrane of ductal epithelia, such as the cortical collecting duct (CCD) principal cell (PC), is malformed. Although the functions of the renal monocilium remain elusive, primary monocilia or flagella on neurons act as sensory organelles. Thus we hypothesized that the PC monocilium functions as a cellular sensor. To test this hypothesis, we assessed the contribution of Polaris and cilium structure and function to renal epithelial ion transport electrophysiology. Properties of Tg737°^rpk mutant CCD PC clones were compared with clones genetically rescued with wild-type Tg737 cDNA. All cells were grown as polarized cell monolayers with similarly high transepithelial resistance on permeable filter supports. Three- to fourfold elevated transepithelial voltage (V_te) and short-circuit current (I_sc) were measured in mutant orpk monolayers vs. rescued controls. Pharmacological and cell biological examination of this enhanced electrical end point in mutant monolayers revealed that epithelial Na⁺ channels (ENaCs) were upregulated. Amiloride, ENaC-selective amiloride analogs (benzamil and phenamil), and protease inhibitors (aprotinin and leupeptin) attenuated heightened V_te and I_sc. Higher concentrations of additional amiloride analogs (ethylisopropylamiloride and dimethylamiloride) also revealed inhibition of V_te. Cell culture requirements and manipulations were also consistent with heightened ENaC expression and function. Together, these data suggest that ENaC expression and/or function are upregulated in the luminal membrane of mutant, cilium-deficient orpk CCD PC monolayers vs. cilium-competent controls. When the genetic lesion causes loss or malformation of the monocilium, ENaC-driven Na⁺ hyperabsorption may explain the rapid emergence of severe hypertension in a majority of patients with ARPKD. cilia; hypertension; ion transport; epithelial cells     

Chlamydomonas IFT88 and its mouse homologue, polycystic kidney disease gene tg737, are required for assembly of cilia and flagella

Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is a rapid movement of multi-subunit protein particles along flagellar microtubules and is required for assembly and maintenance of eukaryotic flagella. We cloned and sequenced a Chlamydomonas cDNA encoding the IFT88 subunit of the IFT particle and identified a Chlamydomonas insertional mutant that is missing this gene. The phenotype of this mutant is normal except for the complete absence of flagella. IFT88 is homologous to mouse and human genes called Tg737. Mice with defects in Tg737 die shortly after birth from polycystic kidney disease. We show that the primary cilia in the kidney of Tg737 mutant mice are shorter than normal. This indicates that IFT is important for primary cilia assembly in mammals. It is likely that primary cilia have an important function in the kidney and that defects in their assembly can lead to polycystic kidney disease.     

The Oak Ridge Polycystic Kidney (orpk) disease gene is required for left-right axis determination

Analysis of several mutations in the mouse is providing useful insights into the nature of the genes required for the establishment of the left-right axis during early development. Here we describe a new targeted allele of the mouse Tg737 gene, Tg737(Delta)2-3(beta)Gal), which causes defects in left-right asymmetry and other abnormalities during embryogenesis. The Tg737 gene was originally identified based on its association with the mouse Oak Ridge Polycystic Kidney (orpk) insertional mutation, which causes polycystic kidney disease and other defects. Complementation tests between the original orpk mutation and the new targeted knock-out mutation demonstrate that Tg737(Delta)2-3(beta)Gal) behaves as an allele of Tg737. The differences in the phenotype between the two mutations suggest that the orpk mutation is a hypomorphic allele of the Tg737 gene. Unlike the orpk allele, where all homozygotes survive to birth, embryos homozygous for the Tg737(Delta)2-3(beta)Gal) mutation arrest in development at mid-gestation and exhibit neural tube defects, enlargement of the pericardial sac and, most notably, left-right asymmetry defects. At mid-gestation the direction of heart looping is randomized, and at earlier stages in development lefty-2 and nodal, which are normally expressed asymmetrically, exhibit symmetrical expression in the mutant embryos. Additionally, we determined that the ventral node cells in mutant embryos fail to express the central cilium, which is a characteristic and potentially functional feature of these cells. The expression of both Shh and Hnf3(beta) is downregulated in the midline at E8.0, indicating that there are significant alterations in midline development in the Tg737(Delta)2-3(beta)Gal) homozygous embryos. We propose that the failure of ventral node cells to fully mature alters their ability to undergo differentiation as they migrate out of the node to contribute to the developing midline structures. Analysis of this new knockout allele allows us to define a critical role for the Tg737 gene during early embryogenesis. We have named the product of the Tg737 gene Polaris, which is based on the various polarity related defects associated with the different alleles of the Tg737 gene.     

ERK-mediated suppression of cilia in cisplatin-induced tubular cell apoptosis and acute kidney injury

In kidneys, each tubular epithelial cell contains a primary cilium that protrudes from the apical surface. Ciliary dysfunction was recently linked to acute kidney injury (AKI) following renal ischemia–reperfusion. Whether ciliary regulation is a general pathogenic mechanism in AKI remains unclear. Moreover, the ciliary change during AKI and its underlying mechanism are largely unknown. Here we examined the change of primary cilium and its role in tubular cell apoptosis and AKI induced by cisplatin, a chemotherapy agent with notable nephrotoxicity. In cultured human proximal tubular HK-2 epithelial cells, cilia became shorter during cisplatin treatment, followed by apoptosis. Knockdown of Kif3a or Polaris (cilia maintenance proteins) reduced cilia and increased apoptosis during cisplatin treatment. We further subcloned HK-2 cells and found that the clones with shorter cilia were more sensitive to cisplatin-induced apoptosis. Mechanistically, cilia-suppressed cells showed hyperphosphorylation or activation of ERK. Inhibition of ERK by U0126 preserved cilia during cisplatin treatment and protected against apoptosis in HK-2 cells. In C57BL/6 mice, U0126 prevented the loss of cilia from proximal tubules during cisplatin treatment and protected against AKI. U0126 up-regulated Polaris, but not Kif3a, in kidney tissues. It is suggested that ciliary regulation by ERK plays a role in cisplatin-induced tubular apoptosis and AKI.     

Primary cilia of inv/inv mouse renal epithelial cells sense physiological fluid flow: bending of primary cilia and Ca2+ influx

Primary cilia are hypothesized to act as a mechanical sensor to detect renal tubular fluid flow. Anomalous structure of primary cilia and/or impairment of increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration in response to fluid flow are thought to result in renal cyst formation in conditional kif3a knockout, Tg737 and pkd1/pkd2 mutant mice. The mutant inv/inv mouse develops multiple renal cysts like kif3a, Tg737 and pkd1/pkd2 mutants. Inv proteins have been shown to be localized in the renal primary cilia, but response of inv/inv cilia to fluid stress has not been examined. In the present study, we examined the mechanical response of primary cilia to physiological fluid flow using a video microscope, as well as intracellular Ca2+ increases in renal epithelial cells from normal and inv/inv mice in response to flow stress. Percentages of ciliated cells and the length of primary cilia were not significantly different between primary renal cell cultures from normal and inv/inv mutant mice. Localization of inv protein was restricted to the base of primary cilia even under flow stress. Inv/inv mutant cells had similar bending mechanics of primary cilia in response to physiological fluid flow compared to normal cells. Furthermore, no difference was found in intracellular Ca2+ increases in response to physiological fluid flow between normal and inv/inv mutant cells. Our present study suggests that the function of the inv protein is distinct from polaris (the Tg737 gene product), polycystins (pkd1 and pkd2 gene products).     

Neuronal primary cilia: a review

Primary cilia in neurons have often been regarded as rare, vestigial curiosities. However, neuronal cilia are now gaining recognition as ubiquitous organelles in the mammalian brain, raising speculation about what their functions may be. They might have some features tailored for the nervous system and others that serve needs shared by a spectrum of other cell types. Here we review clues from the literature and present new data supporting several possibilities for the significance of neuronal cilia. Our immunocytochemical results show regional heterogeneity in neuronal cilia. Brain regions nearer to the cerebral ventricles had longer cilia, suggesting that they might sense chemicals such as peptides, originating from cerebrospinal fluid. In mutant Tg737(orpk)mice, most brain regions appeared to be missing cilia. The importance of intraflagellar transport proteins establishes a functional link between neuronal cilia and other primary cilia.     

Disruption of intraflagellar transport in adult mice leads to obesity and slow-onset cystic kidney disease

The assembly of primary cilia is dependent on intraflagellar transport (IFT), which mediates the bidirectional movement of proteins between the base and tip of the cilium. In mice, congenic mutations disrupting genes required for IFT (e.g., Tg737 or the IFT kinesin Kif3a) are embryonic lethal, whereas kidney-specific disruption of IFT results in severe, rapidly progressing cystic pathology. Although the function of primary cilia in most tissues is unknown, in the kidney they are mechanosenstive organelles that detect fluid flow through the tubule lumen. The loss of this flow-induced signaling pathway is thought to be a major contributing factor to cyst formation. Recent data also suggest that there is a connection between ciliary dysfunction and obesity as evidenced by the discovery that proteins associated with human obesity syndromes such as Alstr?m and Bardet-Biedl localize to this organelle. To more directly assess the importance of cilia in postnatal life, we utilized conditional alleles of two ciliogenic genes (Tg737 and Kif3a) to systemically induce cilia loss in adults. Surprisingly, the cystic kidney pathology in these mutants is dependent on the time at which cilia loss was induced, suggesting that cyst formation is not simply caused by impaired mechanosensation. In addition to the cystic pathology, the conditional cilia mutant mice become obese, are hyperphagic, and have elevated levels of serum insulin, glucose, and leptin. We further defined where in the body cilia are required for normal energy homeostasis by disrupting cilia on neurons throughout the central nervous system and on pro-opiomelanocortin-expressing cells in the hypothalamus, both of which resulted in obesity. These data establish that neuronal cilia function in a pathway regulating satiety responses.     

Loss of apical monocilia on collecting duct principal cells impairs ATP secretion across the apical cell surface and ATP-dependent and flow-induced calcium signals

Renal epithelial cells release ATP constitutively under basal conditions and release higher quantities of purine nucleotide in response to stimuli. ATP filtered at the glomerulus, secreted by epithelial cells along the nephron, and released serosally by macula densa cells for feedback signaling to afferent arterioles within the glomerulus has important physiological signaling roles within kidneys. In autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) mice and humans, collecting duct epithelial cells lack an apical central cilium or express dysfunctional proteins within that monocilium. Collecting duct principal cells derived from an Oak Ridge polycystic kidney (orpk ( Tg737 ) ) mouse model of ARPKD lack a well-formed apical central cilium, thought to be a sensory organelle. We compared these cells grown as polarized cell monolayers on permeable supports to the same cells where the apical monocilium was genetically rescued with the wild-type Tg737 gene that encodes Polaris, a protein essential to cilia formation. Constitutive ATP release under basal conditions was low and not different in mutant versus rescued monolayers. However, genetically rescued principal cell monolayers released ATP three- to fivefold more robustly in response to ionomycin. Principal cell monolayers with fully formed apical monocilia responded three- to fivefold greater to hypotonicity than mutant monolayers lacking monocilia. In support of the idea that monocilia are sensory organelles, intentionally harsh pipetting of medium directly onto the center of the monolayer induced ATP release in genetically rescued monolayers that possessed apical monocilia. Mechanical stimulation was much less effective, however, on mutant orpk collecting duct principal cell monolayers that lacked apical central monocilia. Our data also show that an increase in cytosolic free Ca(2+) primes the ATP pool that is released in response to mechanical stimuli. It also appears that hypotonic cell swelling and mechanical pipetting stimuli trigger release of a common ATP pool. Cilium-competent monolayers responded to flow with an increase in cell Ca(2+) derived from both extracellular and intracellular stores. This flow-induced Ca(2+) signal was less robust in cilium-deficient monolayers. Flow-induced Ca(2+) signals in both preparations were attenuated by extracellular gadolinium and by extracellular apyrase, an ATPase/ADPase. Taken together, these data suggest that apical monocilia are sensory organelles and that their presence in the apical membrane facilitates the formation of a mature ATP secretion apparatus responsive to chemical, osmotic, and mechanical stimuli. The cilium and autocrine ATP signaling appear to work in concert to control cell Ca(2+). Loss of a cilium-dedicated autocrine purinergic signaling system may be a critical underlying etiology for ARPKD and may lead to disinhibition and/or upregulation of multiple sodium (Na(+)) absorptive mechanisms and a resultant severe hypertensive phenotype in ARPKD and, possibly, other diseases.     

PDGFRalphaalpha signaling is regulated through the primary cilium in fibroblasts

Recent findings show that cilia are sensory organelles that display specific receptors and ion channels, which transmit signals from the extracellular environment via the cilium to the cell to control tissue homeostasis and function. Agenesis of primary cilia or mislocation of ciliary signal components affects human pathologies, such as polycystic kidney disease and disorders associated with Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Primary cilia are essential for hedgehog ligand-induced signaling cascade regulating growth and patterning. Here, we show that the primary cilium in fibroblasts plays a critical role in growth control via platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRalpha), which localizes to the primary cilium during growth arrest in NIH3T3 cells and primary cultures of mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Ligand-dependent activation of PDGFRalphaalpha is followed by activation of Akt and the Mek1/2-Erk1/2 pathways, with Mek1/2 being phosphorylated within the cilium and at the basal body. Fibroblasts derived from Tg737(orpk) mutants fail to form normal cilia and to upregulate the level of PDGFRalpha; PDGF-AA fails to activate PDGFRalphaalpha and the Mek1/2-Erk1/2 pathway. Signaling through PDGFRbeta, which localizes to the plasma membrane, is maintained at comparable levels in wild-type and mutant cells. We propose that ciliary PDGFRalphaalpha signaling is linked to tissue homeostasis and to mitogenic signaling pathways.     

Altered pH(i) regulation and Na(+)/HCO3(-) transporter activity in choroid plexus of cilia-defective Tg737(orpk) mutant mouse

Tg737^orpk mice have defects in cilia assembly and develop hydrocephalus in the perinatal period of life. Hydrocephalus is progressive and is thought to be initiated by abnormal ion and water transport across the choroid plexus epithelium. The pathology is further aggravated by the slow and disorganized beating of motile cilia on ependymal cells that contribute to decreased cerebrospinal fluid movement through the ventricles. Previously, we demonstrated that the hydrocephalus phenotype is associated with a marked increase in intracellular cAMP levels in choroid plexus epithelium, which is known to have regulatory effects on ion and fluid movement in many secretory epithelia. To evaluate whether the hydrocephalus in Tg737^orpk mutants is associated with defects in ion transport, we compared the steady-state pH_i and Na⁺-dependent transport activities of isolated choroid plexus epithelium tissue from Tg737^orpk mutant and wild-type mice. The data indicate that Tg737^orpk mutant choroid plexus epithelium have lower pH_i and higher Na⁺-dependent HCO₃^– transport activity compared with wild-type choroid plexus epithelium. In addition, wild-type choroid plexus epithelium could be converted to a mutant phenotype with regard to the activity of Na⁺-dependent HCO₃^– transport by addition of dibutyryl-cAMP and mutant choroid plexus epithelium toward the wild-type phenotype by inhibiting PKA activity with H-89. Together, these data suggest that cilia have an important role in regulating normal physiology of choroid plexus epithelium and that ciliary dysfunction in Tg737^orpk mutants disrupts a signaling pathway leading to elevated intracellular cAMP levels and aberrant regulation of pH_i and ion transport activity. cAMP; ion transport     

The cilia protein IFT88 is required for spindle orientation in mitosis

Cilia dysfunction has long been associated with cyst formation and ciliopathies. More recently, misoriented cell division has been observed in cystic kidneys, but the molecular mechanism leading to this abnormality remains unclear. Proteins of the intraflagellar transport (IFT) machinery are linked to cystogenesis and are required for cilia formation in non-cycling cells. Several IFT proteins also localize to spindle poles in mitosis, indicating uncharacterized functions for these proteins in dividing cells. Here, we show that IFT88 depletion induces mitotic defects in human cultured cells, in kidney cells from the IFT88 mouse mutant Tg737(orpk) and in zebrafish embryos. In mitosis, IFT88 is part of a dynein1-driven complex that transports peripheral microtubule clusters containing microtubule-nucleating proteins to spindle poles to ensure proper formation of astral microtubule arrays and thus proper spindle orientation. This work identifies a mitotic mechanism for a cilia protein in the orientation of cell division and has important implications for the etiology of ciliopathies.     

The Na+/H+ exchanger NHE1 is required for directional migration stimulated via PDGFR-α in the primary cilium

We previously demonstrated that the primary cilium coordinates platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor (PDGFR) α–mediated migration in growth-arrested fibroblasts. In this study, we investigate the functional relationship between ciliary PDGFR-α and the Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger NHE1 in directional cell migration. NHE1 messenger RNA and protein levels are up-regulated in NIH3T3 cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) during growth arrest, which is concomitant with cilium formation. NHE1 up-regulation is unaffected in Tg737^orpk MEFs, which have no or very short primary cilia. In growth-arrested NIH3T3 cells, NHE1 is activated by the specific PDGFR-α ligand PDGF-AA. In wound-healing assays on growth-arrested NIH3T3 cells and wild-type MEFs, NHE1 inhibition by 5′-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl) amiloride potently reduces PDGF-AA–mediated directional migration. These effects are strongly attenuated in interphase NIH3T3 cells, which are devoid of primary cilia, and in Tg737^orpk MEFs. PDGF-AA failed to stimulate migration in NHE1-null fibroblasts. In conclusion, stimulation of directional migration in response to ciliary PDGFR-α signals is specifically dependent on NHE1 activity, indicating that NHE1 activation is a critical event in the physiological response to PDGFR-α stimulation.     

Collecting duct cells that lack normal cilia have mislocalized vasopressin-2 receptors

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a ciliopathy characterized by renal cysts and hypertension. These changes are presumably due to altered fluid and electrolyte transport in the collecting duct (CD). This is the site where vasopressin (AVP) stimulates vasopressin-2 receptor (V2R)-mediated aquaporin-2 (AQP2) insertion into the apical membrane. Since cysts frequently occur in the CD, we studied V2R and AQP2 trafficking and function in CD cell lines with stunted and normal cilia [cilia (-), cilia (+)] derived from the orpk mouse (hypomorph of the Tg737/Ift88 gene). Interestingly, only cilia (-) cells grown on culture dishes formed domes after apical AVP treatment. This observation led to our hypothesis that V2R mislocalizes to the apical membrane in the absence of a full-length cilium. Immunofluorescence indicated that AQP2 localizes to cilia and in a subapical compartment in cilia (+) cells, but AQP2 levels were elevated in both apical and basolateral membranes in cilia (-) cells after apical AVP treatment. Western blot analysis revealed V2R and glycosylated AQP2 in biotinylated apical membranes of cilia (-) but not in cilia (+) cells. In addition, apical V2R was functional upon apical desmopressin (DDAVP) treatment by demonstrating increased cAMP, water transport, and benzamil-sensitive equivalent short-circuit current (I(sc)) in cilia (-) cells but not in cilia (+) cells. Moreover, pretreatment with a PKA inhibitor abolished DDAVP stimulation of I(sc) in cilia (-) cells. Thus we propose that structural or functional loss of cilia leads to abnormal trafficking of AQP2/V2R leading to enhanced salt and water absorption. Whether such apical localization contributes to enhanced fluid retention and hypertension in PKD remains to be determined.     

Articular cartilage and growth plate defects are associated with chondrocyte cytoskeletal abnormalities in Tg737orpk mice lacking the primary cilia protein polaris

Primary cilia are highly conserved organelles found on almost all eukaryotic cells. Tg737^orpk (orpk) mice carry a hypomorphic mutation in the Tg737 gene resulting in the loss of polaris, a protein essential for ciliogenesis. Orpk mice have an array of skeletal patterning defects and show stunted growth after birth, suggesting defects in appositional and endochondral development. This study investigated the association between orpk tibial long bone growth and chondrocyte primary cilia expression using histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analysis. Wild-type chondrocytes throughout the developing epiphysis and growth plate expressed primary cilia, which showed a specific orientation away from the articular surface in the first 7–10 cell layers. In orpk mice, primary cilia were identified on very few cells and were significantly shorter. Orpk chondrocytes also showed significant increases in cytoplasmic tubulin, a likely result of failed ciliary assembly. The growth plates of orpk mice were significantly smaller in length and width, with marked changes in cellular organization in the presumptive articular cartilage, proliferative and hypertrophic zones. Cell density at the articular surface and in the hypertrophic zone was significantly altered, suggesting defects in both appositional and endochondral growth. In addition, orpk hypertrophic chondrocytes showed re-organization of the F-actin network into stress fibres and failed to fully undergo hypertrophy, while there was a marked reduction in type X collagen sequestration. These data suggest that failure to form a functional primary cilium affects chondrocyte differentiation and results in delayed chondrocyte hypertrophy within the orpk growth plate.     

Calreticulin reveals a critical Ca(2+) checkpoint in cardiac myofibrillogenesis

Approximately 10% of the photoreceptor outer segment (OS) is turned over each day, requiring large amounts of lipid and protein to be moved from the inner segment to the OS. Defects in intraphotoreceptor transport can lead to retinal degeneration and blindness. The transport mechanisms are unknown, but because the OS is a modified cilium, intraflagellar transport (IFT) is a candidate mechanism. IFT involves movement of large protein complexes along ciliary microtubules and is required for assembly and maintenance of cilia. We show that IFT particle proteins are localized to photoreceptor connecting cilia. We further find that mice with a mutation in the IFT particle protein gene, Tg737/IFT88, have abnormal OS development and retinal degeneration. Thus, IFT is important for assembly and maintenance of the vertebrate OS.