Epithelial-mesenchymal transitions in development and disease.
The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays crucial roles in the formation of the body plan and in the differentiation of multiple tissues and organs. EMT also contributes to tissue repair, but it can adversely cause organ fibrosis and promote carcinoma progression through a variety of mechanisms. EMT endows cells with migratory and invasive properties, induces stem cell properties, prevents apoptosis and senescence, and contributes to immunosuppression. Thus, the mesenchymal state is associated with the capacity of cells to migrate to distant organs and maintain stemness, allowing their subsequent differentiation into multiple cell types during development and the initiation of metastasis.
Thiery
Jean Paul
JP
IMCB, A*STAR, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Republic of Singapore. jpthiery@imcb.a-star.edu.sg
Acloque
Hervé
H
Huang
Ruby Y J
RY
Nieto
M Angela
MA
D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D054262:Gastrulation; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*