The role of primary cilia in obesity and diabetes

One in 12 people worldwide suffers from diabetes and more than 90% of affected adult individuals are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Obesity adds to the personal risk to develop T2DM, and both metabolic diseases are rampantly increasing worldwide. Over recent years, primary cilia have moved into the focus of basic and clinical research, after several human diseases have been identified as ciliopathies (i.e., they are linked to ciliary dysfunction). A subset of ciliopathies presents with obesity and diabetes, either as core symptoms or major complications. Several studies have shown a role for ciliary signaling in the satiety signaling centers of the hypothalamus and in other metabolically active tissues, such as pancreatic islets. Here, we discuss recent advances and perspectives in ciliary metabolic research.