Role of Primary Cilia in Skeletal Disorders

Figure 1

Schematic representation shows the cilium feature in bone or cartilage tumors. In both the proliferative and hypertrophic zones of the normal growth plate, the cilium is well orientated as shown in each layer. However, in osteochondroma, chondrocyte arrangement and cilia orientation are dramatically disorganized. In human malignant chondrosarcomas, cilium incidence is reduced and cilium orientation is disorganized. In the mouse peripheral chondrosarcoma, primary cilium is dramatically reduced and cilium orientation is disorganized. Giant cell tumor of bone is composed of mononuclear stromal cells and numerous macrophage giant cells, but only mononuclear stromal cells of giant cell tumor of bone present primary cilia.