Complex networks orchestrate epithelial-mesenchymal transitions.
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition is an indispensable mechanism during morphogenesis, as without mesenchymal cells, tissues and organs will never be formed. However, epithelial-cell plasticity, coupled to the transient or permanent formation of mesenchyme, goes far beyond the problem of cell-lineage segregation. Understanding how mesenchymal cells arise from an epithelial default status will also have a strong impact in unravelling the mechanisms that control fibrosis and cancer progression.
Thiery
Jean Paul
JP
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Unité Mixte Recherche (UMR) 144 and Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris Cedex 05, France. Jean-Paul.Thiery@curie.fr
Sleeman
Jonathan P
JP
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D047108:Embryonic Development; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D005775:Gastrula / Q000166:cytology; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000196:embryology; D006801:Humans; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction