title: Regulation of endothelial cell plasticity by TGF-β.
abstract: Recent evidence has demonstrated that endothelial cells can have a remarkable plasticity. By a process called Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EndMT) endothelial cells convert to a more mesenchymal cell type that can give rise to cells such as fibroblasts, but also bone cells. EndMT is essential during embryonic development and tissue regeneration. Interestingly, it also plays a role in pathological conditions like fibrosis of organs such as the heart and kidney. In addition, EndMT contributes to the generation of cancer associated fibroblasts that are known to influence the tumor-microenvironment favorable for the tumor cells. EndMT is a form of the more widely known and studied Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). Like EMT, EndMT can be induced by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. Indeed many studies have pointed to the important role of TGF-β receptor/Smad signaling and downstream targets, such as Snail transcriptional repressor in EndMT. By selective targeting of TGF-β receptor signaling pathological EndMT may be inhibited for the therapeutic benefit of patients with cancer and fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Centre for Biomedical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Postbus 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. L.A.van_Meeteren@lumc.nl
authors.forename: Laurens A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: van Meeteren
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: ten Dijke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation / Q000502:physiology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta