title: Where cell fate conversions meet Chinese philosophy.
abstract: Accumulating evidence indicates that the mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are basic mechanisms for cell fate conversion and may help us understand both physiologic and pathologic processes such as development and carcinogenesis. Here, we further suggest that mammalian cells fall into two grand divisions, mesenchymal or epithelial; interconversions between these two grand divisions through EMT/MET resonate with some ancient Chinese philosophic ideas.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510530, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510530, China.
authors.forename: Andrew Paul
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Hutchins
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510530, China.
authors.forename: Guangjin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510530, China.
authors.forename: Yinxiong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510530, China.
authors.forename: Duanqing
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pei
mesh_terms: D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology; D015053:Zygote / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins