Planar Organization of Multiciliated Ependymal (E1) Cells in the Brain Ventricular Epithelium.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) continuously flows through the cerebral ventricles, a process essential for brain homeostasis. Multiciliated ependymal (E1) cells line the walls of the ventricles and contribute importantly to CSF flow through ciliary beating. Key to this function is the rotational and translational planar cell polarity (PCP) of E1 cells. Defects in the PCP of E1 cells can result in abnormal CSF accumulation and hydrocephalus. Here, we integrate recent data on the roles of early CSF flow in the embryonic ventricles, PCP regulators (e.g., Vangl2 and Dishevelled), and cytoskeletal networks in the establishment, refinement, and maintenance of E1 cells' PCP. The planar organization mechanisms of E1 cells could explain how CSF flow contributes to brain function and may help in the diagnosis and prevention of hydrocephalus.
Department of Physiological Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. Electronic address: ohata@mol.f.u-tokyo.ac.jp.
Shinya
S
Ohata
Department of Neurological Surgery, and Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. Electronic address: ABuylla@stemcell.ucsf.edu.
Arturo
A
Alvarez-Buylla
D000818:Animals; D004805:Ependyma / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
cerebrospinal fluid; cilia; ependymal cell; hydrocephalus; planar cell polarity; ventricle