Epithelial-Mesenchymal transition

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, also known as EMT, is a biological process that transforms already differentiated epithelial cells into cells with a mesenchymal phenotype. This transformation implies multiple biochemical and structural changes, such as the loss of cell-to-cell junctions, a reorganization of the cytoskeleton, an increased motility, and modifications of the extracellular matrix (Figure 1).

A few epithelial cells are tightly packed together by cell junctions on top of a basal matrix. These cells undergo EMT, which is represented as an arrow. As a result of the process, some of the epithelial cells become mesenchymal cells, and both the cell junctions and the basal matrix get disrupted.

Figure 1. Scheme of EMT.

EMT is a very common process in different biological events such as embryogenesis, organ development, fibrosis, or tissue regeneration, where a transformation of the epithelial cell phenotype is needed. However, EMT is also linked to malignancy in cancer.

EMT can be induced by different extracellular factors, including signaling molecules like BMPs, FGFs, and TGF-beta, or enzymes like matrix metalloproteases.

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