Primary cilia in the development of the cerebral cortex: a literature review

Background and Objective: Evolutionarily speaking, cilia are conserved organelles protruding from the surface of most cells, found in various cellular organisms. For a long period, primary cilia were considered as vestigial or useless organelles in the body. However, with the in-depth study of ultrastructure over recent years, researchers have discovered that abnormal primary cilia involved in corticogenesis could impose severe cilia-related cortical developmental defects or diseases. Till now, the specific mechanisms as well as pathogenesis remain unclear. Further studies are needed to explore the pathogenesis and treatment of ciliopathies associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.