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Updated: May 31, 2026

Using Primary Neurosphere Cultures to Study Primary Cilia
Published on: April 14, 2017
The mechanosensory role of primary cilia in vascular hypertension
Surya M Nauli1, Xingjian Jin, Beerend P Hierck
1Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Toledo, Health Science Campus, HEB 274, 3000 Arlington Avenue MS 1015, Toledo, OH 43614, USA.
Abstract:
Local regulation of vascular tone plays an important role in cardiovascular control of blood pressure. Aside from chemical or hormonal regulations, this local homeostasis is highly regulated by fluid-shear stress. It was previously unclear how vascular endothelial cells were able to sense fluid-shear stress. The cellular functions of mechanosensory cilia within vascular system have emerged recently. In particular, hypertension is insidious and remains a continuous problem that evolves during the course of polycystic kidney disease (PKD). The basic and clinical perspectives on primary cilia are discussed with regard to the pathogenesis of hypertension in PKD.
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