PNAS, 2010 · DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1005998107 · Published: October 26, 2010
Cilia are important for how organs work and develop, but we don't know much about their role after an injury. This study looks at how cilia change when tissue is damaged or cysts form in the kidney. The researchers focused on a gene regulator called foxj1 that controls cilia-related genes. They discovered that one version of foxj1, called foxj1a, is quickly activated when cells are stretched, like when cysts grow in the kidney. This activation happens directly in response to the cell stretch, not because of other signals. The study also found that foxj1a is needed for cilia to move properly. When foxj1a is activated, it tells other genes to enhance cilia motility. This shows that cilia play a role in maintaining organ health after injury.
Provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying cystic kidney diseases and other ciliopathies, potentially leading to new therapeutic targets.
Suggests that modulating Foxj1 and downstream ciliogenic genes could be a novel therapeutic target to promote tissue repair in multiple forms of organ injury.
Foxj1 induction could serve as a diagnostic marker for early detection of tissue damage and injury.