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2016 ; 36
(3
): 449-57
Nephropedia Template TP
Cell Mol Neurobiol
2016[Apr]; 36
(3
): 449-57
PMID26983828
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Cilia are sensory organelles that protrude from cell surfaces to monitor the
surrounding environment. In addition to its role as sensory receiver, the cilium
also releases extracellular vesicles (EVs). The release of sub-micron sized EVs
is a conserved form of intercellular communication used by all three kingdoms of
life. These extracellular organelles play important roles in both short and long
range signaling between donor and target cells and may coordinate systemic
responses within an organism in normal and diseased states. EV shedding from
ciliated cells and EV-cilia interactions are evolutionarily conserved phenomena,
yet remarkably little is known about the relationship between the cilia and EVs
and the fundamental biology of EVs. Studies in the model organisms Chlamydomonas
and Caenorhabditis elegans have begun to shed light on ciliary EVs. Chlamydomonas
EVs are shed from tips of flagella and are bioactive. Caenorhabditis elegans EVs
are shed and released by ciliated sensory neurons in an intraflagellar
transport-dependent manner. Caenorhabditis elegans EVs play a role in modulating
animal-to-animal communication, and this EV bioactivity is dependent on EV cargo
content. Some ciliary pathologies, or ciliopathies, are associated with abnormal
EV shedding or with abnormal cilia-EV interactions. Until the 21st century, both
cilia and EVs were ignored as vestigial or cellular junk. As research interest in
these two organelles continues to gain momentum, we envision a new field of cell
biology emerging. Here, we propose that the cilium is a dedicated organelle for
EV biogenesis and EV reception. We will also discuss possible mechanisms by which
EVs exert bioactivity and explain how what is learned in model organisms
regarding EV biogenesis and function may provide insight to human ciliopathies.
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