Review examines primary cilia in biliary homeostasis and disease

A review in Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology summarizes the structure and function of cholangiocyte primary cilia and the biliary disorders associated with their dysfunction. These organelles project into the bile duct lumen, sensing chemical, mechanical and osmotic changes in bile. Their signalling helps regulate the biliary microenvironment, maintain homeostasis and support regeneration.

The review describes how structural or functional alterations in these cilia disrupt signalling pathways and contribute to biliary ciliopathies. Clinical manifestations include cystic lesions, fibrosis and biliary strictures. Experimental models have established cilia as regulators of cholangiocyte biological processes and provide platforms for investigating disease mechanisms and liver regeneration.

Most of the biliary ciliopathies discussed lack effective treatments directed at their underlying mechanisms, making cilium biology a potential avenue for therapeutic research. However, the supplied material is a subscription preview: it provides no quantitative treatment effects, patient sample sizes or clinical efficacy results. The therapeutic implications should therefore be understood as research opportunities rather than evidence supporting a change in clinical management.