Notch and epithelial-mesenchyme transition in development and tumor progression: another turn of the screw.
Notch is an ancient cell signaling system that regulates cell fate specification, stem cell maintenance and initiation of differentiation in embryonic and postnatal tissues.(1) Alteration of these functions in the adult have been associated to various types of cancer in which Notch may act as an oncogene or as a tumor suppressor. As occurs during development, Notch cooperates with other signaling pathways in the transformation process. Notch has recently been shown to promote epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) during cardiac valve formation, via snail induction and subsequent cadherin downregulation. One implication of this work is that Notch acting through a similar mechanism, may also be involved in the EMT process that occurs during tumor progression and converts polarized epithelial cells into motile, invasive cells.
Grego-Bessa
Joaquín
J
Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CSIC), Campus Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain.
Díez
Juan
J
Timmerman
Luika
L
de la Pompa
José Luis
JL
D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000473:pathology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D051881:Receptor, Notch1; D051883:Receptor, Notch2; D000074562:Receptor, Notch4; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology*; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology
C497761:NOTCH1 protein, human; C497764:NOTCH2 protein, human; C106075:NOTCH4 protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051881:Receptor, Notch1; D051883:Receptor, Notch2; D000074562:Receptor, Notch4; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D014157:Transcription Factors