Work

Investigating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition with integrated computational and experimental approaches

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: The transition between epithelial and mesenchymal (EMT) is a fundamental cellular process that plays critical roles in development, cancer metastasis, and tissue wound healing. EMT is not a binary process but involves multiple partial EMT states that give rise to a high degree of cell state plasticity. Here, we first reviewed several studies on theoretical predictions and experimental verification of these intermediate states, the role of partial EMT on kidney fibrosis development, and how quantitative signaling information controls cell commitment to partial or full EMT upon transient signals. Next, we summarized existing knowledge and open questions on the coupling between EMT and other biological processes, such as the cell cycle, epigenetic regulation, stemness, and apoptosis. Taken together, EMT is a model system that has attracted increasing interests for quantitative experimental and theoretical studies.

Source: Physical Biology

DOI: 10.1088/1478-3975/ab0032

Authors: Jianhua Xing, Xiao-Jun Tian

Institutions: University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Arizona State University

Language: English

Topic: Cancer Cells and Metastasis

Subfield: Oncology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Science Foundation, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Awards: Three-dimensional organoid models to study breast cancer progression, G5781678394, Role of the Snail1-Twist-p21 axis on cell cycle arrest and renal fibrosis development, Histopathologic validation of 89Zr-DFO-HuMab-5B1 PET/CT imaging in CA 19-9 positive pancreatic cancer, G8933345223