Epithelial-mesenchymal transition

IF 42.5 1区生物学 Q1 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Cell Pub Date : 2025-10-02 DOI:10.1016/j.cell.2025.08.033

Cecilia Xi Zhang, Ruby Yun-Ju Huang, Guojun Sheng, Jean Paul Thiery

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a fundamental mechanism involved in the morphogenesis of metazoans. Through this evolutionarily conserved multi-stage process, cells acquire quasi-epithelial to multiple intermediate morphologies with epithelial and mesenchymal attributes, rarely reaching a complete mesenchymal phenotype. Complex evolutionary-conserved morphogenetic movements in gastrulation are described extensively, as they exemplify the extent of epithelial cell plasticity in the animal kingdom. Nonetheless, a single-gene knockout can modify the mode of gastrulation while achieving the same body plan. Numerous interconnected mechanisms drive different degrees of EMT, including surface receptor signaling, metabolism, and epigenetics. EMT is reactivated in adult tissues during repair and disease, particularly in cancer initiation, progression to metastasis, and refractoriness to treatment. EMT also contributes to dormancy and drug tolerance, leading to minimal residual disease at the origin of recurrences. Multiple EMT states coexist in tumors, creating a dynamic ecosystem for generating an inflammatory microenvironment, stemness, invasion, and metastasis. This review provides an in-depth description of these aspects along with recent controversies and offers new opportunities to further explore the multiple functions of EMT. Examining the potential attributes of EMT in tissue repair, fibrosis, and cancer progression can provide new opportunities for therapeutic intervention.

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Epithelial-mesenchymal过渡

上皮-间质转化（Epithelial-mesenchymal transition， EMT）是后生动物形态发生的基本机制。通过这个进化保守的多阶段过程，细胞获得具有上皮和间充质属性的准上皮到多种中间形态，很少达到完整的间充质表型。复杂的进化保守的形态发生运动在原肠胚中被广泛描述，因为它们例证了动物王国上皮细胞可塑性的程度。尽管如此，单基因敲除可以改变原肠胚形成的模式，同时实现相同的身体计划。许多相互关联的机制驱动不同程度的EMT，包括表面受体信号，代谢和表观遗传学。EMT在修复和疾病期间在成人组织中被重新激活，特别是在癌症开始、进展到转移和治疗难治性时。EMT还有助于休眠和药物耐受性，导致复发起源处的残留疾病最小。多种EMT状态在肿瘤中共存，为炎症微环境的产生、发生、侵袭和转移创造了一个动态的生态系统。这篇综述对这些方面以及最近的争议进行了深入的描述，并为进一步探索EMT的多种功能提供了新的机会。研究EMT在组织修复、纤维化和癌症进展中的潜在属性可以为治疗干预提供新的机会。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Cell 生物-生化与分子生物学

CiteScore

110.00

自引率

0.80%

发文量

396

审稿时长

2 months

期刊介绍： Cells is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal that focuses on cell biology, molecular biology, and biophysics. It is affiliated with several societies, including the Spanish Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SEBBM), Nordic Autophagy Society (NAS), Spanish Society of Hematology and Hemotherapy (SEHH), and Society for Regenerative Medicine (Russian Federation) (RPO). The journal publishes research findings of significant importance in various areas of experimental biology, such as cell biology, molecular biology, neuroscience, immunology, virology, microbiology, cancer, human genetics, systems biology, signaling, and disease mechanisms and therapeutics. The primary criterion for considering papers is whether the results contribute to significant conceptual advances or raise thought-provoking questions and hypotheses related to interesting and important biological inquiries. In addition to primary research articles presented in four formats, Cells also features review and opinion articles in its "leading edge" section, discussing recent research advancements and topics of interest to its wide readership.