Details for: CL0000067

Cell ID: CL0000067

Cell Name: ciliated epithelial cell

Description: An epithelial cell that has a cilia.

Selected Context(s): Overall

Gene Significance Landscape

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Score:
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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 epithelial 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 epithelial 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 epithelial 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 epithelial 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 epithelial cell (CL0000067)

 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 epithelial cell](/details-cell/CL0000067) is a specialized epithelial cell defined by the presence of motile cilia on its apical surface. The gene significance profile for this cell type **Overall** reveals a deep functional commitment to two core processes: high-energy metabolism and calcium-dependent motility. The top markers are dominated by genes encoding components of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and the principal calcium-sensing protein, calmodulin ([CALM1](/details-gene/801) and [CALM2](/details-gene/805)). This signature suggests that the identity and primary function of the [ciliated epithelial cell](/details-cell/CL0000067) are inextricably linked to its capacity for immense ATP production to fuel the continuous, calcium-regulated beating of its cilia. ## Key Characteristics and Function Analysis of the top specifically expressed genes highlights several integrated functional themes that define the [ciliated epithelial cell](/details-cell/CL0000067). * **Mitochondrial Energy Production:** A striking feature of this cell is the high significance of numerous genes essential for aerobic respiration. This includes multiple subunits of the NADH dehydrogenase complex ([NDUFA4](/details-gene/4697), [ND2](/details-gene/4536), [ND3](/details-gene/4537), [ND4](/details-gene/4538)), cytochrome c oxidase ([COX1](/details-gene/4512), [COX2](/details-gene/4513), [COX3](/details-gene/4514), [COX7C](/details-gene/1350)), cytochrome b ([CYTB](/details-gene/4519)), and ATP synthase ([ATP5F1E](/details-gene/514)). The high specificity of this large suite of mitochondrial genes underscores that robust oxidative phosphorylation is not merely a housekeeping function but a defining characteristic, necessary to meet the extraordinary energy demands of ciliary motion. * **Calcium-Dependent Motility and Signaling:** The two most significant markers, [CALM1](/details-gene/801) and [CALM2](/details-gene/805), encode calmodulin, a ubiquitous and essential calcium-binding protein. In ciliated cells, calmodulin is a critical transducer that translates intracellular calcium signals into changes in ciliary beat frequency and pattern. The co-expression of [MYL6](/details-gene/4637), a myosin alkali light chain, further supports a role for calcium-responsive cytoskeletal and motor protein activity, likely involved in maintaining the structural integrity and function of the ciliary apparatus. * **Cellular Protection and Detoxification:** The cell exhibits high specific expression of genes involved in mitigating cellular stress. [GSTP1](/details-gene/2950) (Glutathione S-Transferase Pi 1) and [SOD1](/details-gene/6647) (Superoxide Dismutase 1) are key enzymes in detoxifying xenobiotics and reactive oxygen species, respectively. Their prominence is consistent with a cell type that has high metabolic activity (a source of endogenous oxidative stress) and often resides at barrier surfaces exposed to environmental toxins. The high significance of [FTH1](/details-gene/2495) (Ferritin Heavy Chain 1) also suggests a finely tuned system for managing iron, an essential but potentially toxic redox-active metal. * **Protein Synthesis and Homeostasis:** Genes such as [SRP14](/details-gene/6727), a component of the signal recognition particle, and [UBC](/details-gene/7316), a polyubiquitin precursor, point towards active protein synthesis, processing, and turnover. This is expected for a cell that must maintain a complex ciliary structure and, in many tissues, perform secretory functions. The anti-marker profile is not characterized by strong negative selection but rather by a lack of specific expression for various transcriptional regulators and signaling components, reinforcing that the cell's defining features are its structural and metabolic machinery rather than complex transcriptional decision-making. ## Clinical Significance and Contextual Roles The gene expression profile of the [ciliated epithelial cell](/details-cell/CL0000067) provides insights into its roles in health and its potential contributions to disease. Dysfunction of the cilia, the cell's defining organelle, is the direct cause of a group of genetic disorders known as primary ciliary dyskinesias (ciliopathies), which often manifest as chronic respiratory infections, sinusitis, and infertility. The profound reliance on mitochondrial energy production suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction could be a secondary cause or an exacerbating factor in ciliary-related pathologies. The high expression of protective enzymes like [GSTP1](/details-gene/2950) and [SOD1](/details-gene/6647) highlights the cell's role as a frontline defender at mucosal surfaces, such as the respiratory tract. A diminished capacity to handle oxidative stress or environmental toxins due to genetic variation or overwhelming exposure could impair ciliary function and contribute to the pathophysiology of chronic inflammatory diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma. The high specificity of [ITM2B](/details-gene/9445) is particularly noteworthy. Mutations in this gene are linked to familial British and Danish dementias, where it leads to the generation of amyloidogenic peptides ([Link](https://doi.org/10.1038/21637)). Its presence as a top marker in [ciliated epithelial cells](/details-cell/CL0000067) is unexpected and may suggest a novel, non-neuronal function in the processing of transmembrane or secreted proteins at epithelial barriers. Aberrant processing of proteins by this pathway could potentially contribute to local protein aggregation or inflammatory responses in tissues rich in these cells. ## Potential Mechanisms and Research Directions 1. **Hypothesis:** The specific expression profile of mitochondrial-encoded respiratory chain subunits is a defining feature of [ciliated epithelial cells](/details-cell/CL0000067) that is tightly co-regulated with calcium signaling pathways to ensure a dynamic and highly efficient coupling of ATP supply to the immediate energy demands of ciliary beating. * **Surprising Findings:** It is remarkable that a large number of core, mitochondrial-encoded genes ([COX1](/details-gene/4512), [ND2](/details-gene/4536), etc.) are identified as top markers based on expression *specificity* (`csi_z`). This implies that the unique stoichiometry or regulation of these subunits is a more distinctive feature of this cell type than of other high-energy cells, such as cardiomyocytes or neurons, suggesting a specialized mitochondrial adaptation for ciliary function. * **Testable Questions:** How does stimulation of ciliary beat frequency via calcium ionophores affect the mitochondrial membrane potential and oxygen consumption rate in real-time? Furthermore, does siRNA-mediated knockdown of [CALM1](/details-gene/801)/[CALM2](/details-gene/805) alter the expression or assembly of mitochondrial supercomplexes in these cells? 2. **Hypothesis:** The highly specific expression of [ITM2B](/details-gene/9445) and detoxification enzymes ([GSTP1](/details-gene/2950), [SOD1](/details-gene/6647)) points to a primary function for [ciliated epithelial cells](/details-cell/CL0000067) in proteostasis and the clearance of xenobiotics at mucosal surfaces. Failure in this system may represent a common pathway in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases affecting these barriers. * **Surprising Findings:** The identification of [ITM2B](/details-gene/9445), a gene almost exclusively studied in the context of neurodegenerative amyloid pathology ([Link](https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.080076097)), as a highly specific marker for an epithelial cell is unexpected. This suggests that its role in regulated intramembrane proteolysis may have a broader physiological significance, possibly in managing the turnover of membrane proteins or clearing aggregated proteins from the local environment. * **Testable Questions:** What are the protein substrates of the [ITM2B](/details-gene/9445)-associated proteolytic pathway in primary human airway [ciliated epithelial cells](/details-cell/CL0000067)? Does exposure to environmental pollutants, such as cigarette smoke extract, alter the expression and localization of [ITM2B](/details-gene/9445) and its capacity to process target proteins?