Cholangiocyte Cilia Detect Changes in Luminal Fluid Flow and Transmit Them into Intracellular Ca2+ and cAMP Signaling

摘要

Background & AimsEach cholangiocte in the biliary tree has a primary cilium extending from the apical plasma membrane into the ductal lumen. While the physiological significance of cholangiocyte cilia is unknown, studies in renal epithelia suggest that primary cilia possess sensory functions. Here, we tested the hypothesis that cholangiocyte cilia are sensory organelles that detect and transmit luminal bile flow stimuli into intracellular Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]i) and cAMP signaling.