Elsevier BV Acta Medica Okayama 8756-3282 150 2021 Odontoblast differentiation is regulated by an interplay between primary cilia and the canonical Wnt pathway 116001 EN Kazumi Kawata Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Keishi Narita Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Yamanashi Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering Ayako Washio Division of Endodontics and Restorative Dentistry, Department of Oral Functions, Kyushu Dental University Chiaki Kitamura Division of Endodontics and Restorative Dentistry, Department of Oral Functions, Kyushu Dental University Tatsuji Nishihara Division of Infections and Molecular Biology, Department of Health Promotion, Kyushu Dental University, Satoshi Kubota Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Dentistry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Sen Takeda Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Yamanashi Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering Primary cilium is a protruding cellular organelle that has various physiological functions, especially in sensory reception. While an avalanche of reports on primary cilia have been published, the function of primary cilia in dental cells remains to be investigated. In this study, we focused on the function of primary cilia in dentin-producing odontoblasts. Odontoblasts, like most other cell types, possess primary cilia, which disappear upon the knockdown of intraflagellar transport-88. In cilia-depleted cells, the expression of dentin sialoprotein, an odontoblastic marker, was elevated, while the deposition of minerals was slowed. This was recapitulated by the activation of canonical Wnt pathway, also decreased the ratio of ciliated cells. In dental pulp cells, as they differentiated into odontoblasts, the ratio of ciliated cells was increased, whereas the canonical Wnt signaling activity was repressed. Our results collectively underscore the roles of primary cilia in regulating odontoblastic differentiation through canonical Wnt signaling. This study implies the existence of a feedback loop between primary cilia and the canonical Wnt pathway. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.