Details for: CL0000064

Cell ID: CL0000064

Cell Name: ciliated cell

Description: A cell that has a filiform extrusion of the cell surface.

Selected Context(s): Overall

Gene Significance Landscape

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Score:
Display
Genes

Contexts:

Cell Significance Index (CSI) is uniquely calculated to reveal cell-specific gene markers. More info here

Significant Genes List

Genes with the highest and lowest Percentile Rank Scores (PRS) for ciliated cell within the selected context(s).

Gene ID: A unique numerical identifier for this specific gene.
Symbol: Shortened abbreviation or name that represents this gene.
Ensembl Gene ID: A unique identifier assigned by Ensembl for genomic data mapping.
CSI Score: A combined effect size and statistical significance measure for ciliated cell. Higher scores indicate a stronger, more significant difference in expression.
(Previously described as "Fold Change", but now represents Cliff's Delta × –log10(p).)

Gene ID: A unique numerical identifier for this specific gene.
Symbol: Shortened abbreviation or name that represents this gene.
Ensembl Gene ID: A unique identifier assigned by Ensembl for genomic data mapping.
CSI Score: A combined effect size and statistical significance measure for ciliated cell. Higher scores indicate a stronger, more significant difference in expression.
Average CSI: csi sum / gene count
Cell network configuration

This network visualizes key genes for ciliated cell. It primarily includes:
1. Top genes highly significant for this cell (Num. Top Cell Genes - based on the 'Min. CSI' setting).
2. Any additional specific 'Context Genes' you add below.
The final network is a combined view. Choose an Interaction Source (pathways or protein interactions) and optionally compare CSI scores with a Baseline Cell Type.

Maximum number of selected genes.
Select a context for the baseline cell.
Select a context for the target cell.
Target Cell for CSI:  ciliated cell (CL0000064)

 Legend
Nodes (Genes):
 Query Gene
Node size also reflects Target Cell CSI magnitude.
Node Color (Target Cell CSI in specific network):
 Very High
 High
 Medium
 Low
 Very Low
 N/A or Not Sig.
Edges (Interactions):
 STRING (Protein-Protein)
 ONTOLOGY (Shared Pathway)
 Colors vary by pathway category; default arrow applies.

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## Summary The [ciliated cell](/details-cell/CL0000064) is a specialized cell type characterized by the presence of motile, hair-like projections known as cilia. The gene significance profile for this cell, in the **Overall** context, is overwhelmingly dominated by genes encoding components of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, such as [ND2](/details-gene/4536) and [ND4](/details-gene/4538). This defining molecular signature strongly suggests that the primary characteristic of a [ciliated cell](/details-cell/CL0000064) is an exceptionally high metabolic and bioenergetic capacity, which is essential to power the continuous, ATP-dependent movement of its cilia. This function is critical for processes like mucociliary clearance in the respiratory tract and fluid transport in other organ systems. ## Key Characteristics and Function Analysis of top marker genes, defined by high Cell Significance Index (CSI) Z-scores, reveals several core functional clusters that define the [ciliated cell](/details-cell/CL0000064). * **Mitochondrial Bioenergetics:** The most prominent feature of the [ciliated cell](/details-cell/CL0000064) is its profound reliance on mitochondrial energy production. A large number of genes encoding subunits of the mitochondrial respiratory chain show highly specific expression, including [ND2](/details-gene/4536), [ND4](/details-gene/4538), [COX1](/details-gene/4512), [CYTB](/details-gene/4519), [ND1](/details-gene/4535), [COX2](/details-gene/4513), and [ND5](/details-gene/4540). The high specificity (csi_z) of these markers indicates that this intense metabolic activity is a unique and defining trait, likely required to meet the immense and constant ATP demand of ciliary beating. * **Cytoskeletal and Calcium Signaling Machinery:** The significant expression of [MYL6](/details-gene/4637), a myosin alkali light chain, points to the importance of the underlying cytoskeletal architecture. Furthermore, the high significance of key calcium-binding proteins, including [CALM1](/details-gene/801), [CALM2](/details-gene/805) (Calmodulin), and [S100A6](/details-gene/6277), is consistent with the known role of calcium signaling in modulating ciliary beat frequency and pattern. This suggests that [ciliated cells](/details-cell/CL0000064) are equipped to dynamically regulate their motile activity in response to extracellular cues. * **Detoxification and Oxidative Stress Response:** The high CSI scores for [GSTP1](/details-gene/2950) (Glutathione S-Transferase Pi 1), [SOD1](/details-gene/6647) (Superoxide Dismutase 1), and [PRDX1](/details-gene/5052) (Peroxiredoxin 1) highlight a robust system for managing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cellular toxins. This is a logical adaptation, as the high rate of oxidative phosphorylation in these cells inevitably produces significant ROS. In tissues like the respiratory epithelium, this antioxidant capacity is also critical for protecting the host from inhaled environmental oxidants. * **Protein and Polyamine Homeostasis:** The significance of [UBB](/details-gene/7314) (Ubiquitin B) suggests active protein turnover, likely necessary for the maintenance of the complex ciliary machinery. Additionally, the specific expression of genes involved in polyamine metabolism, such as [SAT1](/details-gene/6303) and [OAZ1](/details-gene/4946), points to tightly regulated cellular processes essential for maintaining cellular structure and function. ## Clinical Significance and Contextual Roles **Overall**, the gene signature of the [ciliated cell](/details-cell/CL0000064) underscores its vulnerability to defects in energy metabolism and its crucial role in barrier defense. The profound dependence on mitochondrial function implies that mitochondrial dysfunction, whether from genetic mutations in genes like [ND2](/details-gene/4536) ([Link](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9475751/)) or environmental insults, could severely impair ciliary motility. This impairment is the hallmark of a class of genetic disorders known as primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), which leads to chronic respiratory infections, infertility, and other systemic issues. While PCD is typically caused by mutations in ciliary structural or assembly proteins, this data suggests that mutations in mitochondrial genes could represent an underappreciated cause or modifier of ciliopathic diseases. Furthermore, the prominent antioxidant and detoxification signature ([GSTP1](/details-gene/2950), [SOD1](/details-gene/6647)) positions the [ciliated cell](/details-cell/CL0000064) as a key defender of epithelial surfaces, particularly in the lungs. Chronic exposure to pollutants and pathogens can overwhelm these defenses, leading to ciliary damage, impaired mucociliary clearance, and increased susceptibility to diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. The specific high expression of these protective genes suggests they are not merely housekeeping proteins but rather represent a specialized function of this cell type. ## Potential Mechanisms and Research Directions 1. **Hypothesis:** The highly specific and coordinated expression of a large suite of mitochondrial genome-encoded electron transport chain genes is a primary, defining adaptation of [ciliated cells](/details-cell/CL0000064) to sustain the continuous, high-energy demands of ciliary motility. This suggests a tight regulatory coupling between the signals controlling ciliary function and the expression of the mitochondrial genome. * **Surprising Findings:** The sheer number of mitochondrial genes ([ND1](/details-gene/4535), [ND2](/details-gene/4536), [ND4](/details-gene/4538), [COX1](/details-gene/4512), [CYTB](/details-gene/4519), etc.) that rank as top markers based on expression specificity (`csi_z`) is remarkable. It indicates that this metabolic profile is not just a general feature of active cells but is a uniquely defining characteristic of the [ciliated cell](/details-cell/CL0000064) identity, on par with the expression of ciliary structural proteins themselves. * **Testable Questions:** Does stimulating an increase in ciliary beat frequency (e.g., via purinergic receptor agonists) lead to a rapid, corresponding increase in the transcription of mitochondrial-encoded genes like [ND2](/details-gene/4536) and [COX1](/details-gene/4512)? 2. **Hypothesis:** The prominent expression of a specialized antioxidant and detoxification toolkit, including [GSTP1](/details-gene/2950) and [SOD1](/details-gene/6647), indicates that the [ciliated cell](/details-cell/CL0000064) acts as a primary sensor and defender against oxidative stress at epithelial barriers, a role as critical as its mechanical clearance function. * **Surprising Findings:** The high specificity score for detoxification enzymes like [GSTP1](/details-gene/2950) suggests this is not simply a generic cellular stress response. Instead, it may represent a specialized, front-line defense mechanism that is constitutively active in these cells, particularly in environmentally exposed tissues like the airway. * **Testable Questions:** In an in vitro model of an airway epithelium, does selective knockdown of [GSTP1](/details-gene/2950) in [ciliated cells](/details-cell/CL0000064) render the entire epithelial sheet more susceptible to damage from environmental oxidants (e.g., ozone), even if neighboring non-ciliated cells retain normal [GSTP1](/details-gene/2950) expression?