Fibroblast Primary Cilia are Required for Cardiac Fibrosis.

Background: The primary cilium is a singular cellular structure that extends from the surface of many cell types and plays crucial roles in vertebrate development, including that of the heart. Whereas ciliated cells have been described in developing heart, a role for primary cilia in adult heart has not been reported. This, coupled with the fact that mutations in genes coding for multiple ciliary proteins underlie polycystic kidney disease, a disorder with numerous cardiovascular manifestations, prompted us to identify cells in adult heart harboring a primary cilium and to determine whether primary cilia play a role in disease-related remodeling. Methods: Histological analysis of cardiac tissues from C57BL/6 mouse embryos, neonatal, and adult mice was performed to evaluate for primary cilia. Three injury models (apical resection, ischemia/reperfusion and myocardial infarction) were employed to identify the location and cell type of ciliated cells using antibodies specific for cilia (acetylated tubulin, γ-...