title: The Multifaceted Roles of Primary Cilia in the Regulation of Stem Cell Properties and Functions.
abstract: Stem cells are a unique class of cells that are capable of self-renewal and differentiation into multiple lineages. An increasing number of studies have suggested that both embryonic and adult stem cells possess primary cilia, antenna-like structures protruding from cell surfaces that are critical for sensing and transducing environmental cues. The primary cilium appears to regulate stem cells in multiple aspects, such as lineage specification and stemness maintenance. Understanding the role of primary cilia in the control of stem cell behavior could lead to the identification of new targets for regenerative therapies. Here, we discuss recent studies investigating the diverse roles of primary cilia in the regulation of stem cell properties and functions. We also propose potential new avenues for exploration in this promising field. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 935-938, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lyu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.|Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology of Shandong Province, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology; D000818:Animals; D002923:Cilia / Q000378:metabolism*; D000066449:Human Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*