Epithelial–mesenchymal transition

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular program in which epithelial cells lose some cell-to-cell adhesion and polarity while gaining traits associated with movement and invasion. It occurs in development, wound repair, and disease.

Cadherin switching: A change in cell adhesion patterns, often involving reduced E-cadherin and increased N-cadherin expression. This adhesion shift is a familiar molecular feature of EMT, though it is not universal.
Epithelial tissue: Tissue made of closely connected cells that cover surfaces, line cavities, or form glands. EMT begins from an epithelial identity characterized by cohesion and organized polarity.
Cancer metastasis: The spread of cancer cells from a primary tumor to distant sites where they form secondary tumors. EMT-like programs can support invasion and dissemination, although their role varies by tumor.
Mesenchymal–epithelial transition: A process in which mesenchymal cells acquire epithelial characteristics. MET reverses many EMT-associated changes and can occur during development or metastatic colonization.
Elizabeth Hay: An American developmental biologist known for research on cell differentiation and embryonic development. Hay’s work helped establish EMT as a process in embryonic development.
SNAI1: A transcription factor that represses epithelial genes and promotes mesenchymal traits. SNAI1 can initiate EMT by suppressing E-cadherin expression.
Mesenchymal tissue: Connective tissue whose cells are typically embedded in extracellular matrix and have varied shapes and arrangements. Mesenchymal traits provide the comparison state named in EMT.
Wound healing: The biological process through which damaged tissue is repaired and restored. Transient EMT-like changes can help epithelial cells move over wounds during repair.
Collective cell migration: The coordinated movement of groups of cells that maintain some cell-to-cell connections. Collective invasion can proceed without every cell completing a full EMT.
Neural crest: A transient embryonic cell population that migrates widely and gives rise to diverse tissues. Neural crest cells undergo EMT as they leave the developing neural tube.

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