The intraflagellar transport protein IFT80 is required for cilia formation and osteogenesis

► IFT80 was highly expressed in bone tissue and during osteoblast differentiation. ► Silencing IFT80 led to either shortening or loss of cilia and blocked osteogenesis. ► Overexpression of Gli2 rescued osteogenic deficiency of IFT80-silenced cells. ► Introduction of SAG promoted osteogenesis, which was inhibited by silencing IFT80. ► IFT80 stimulates osteogenesis through regulating Hedgehog/Gli signal pathway.