Epithelial–mesenchymal transition

As Epithelial -mesenchymal transition (EMT ) is called the transition of epithelial cells into cells with mesenchymal characteristics.

During embryonic development, epithelial cells can lose their epithelial characteristics, by dissolving their cell contacts and downregulate adhesion molecules such as E- cadherin. Thus, the cell can now migrate and pass the basement membrane. They can arrived in their target area differentiate into different cells or epithelial cells again. A requirement for migration is the loss of polarization of the cell. Epithelial cells have an outer apical side which is facing the outside (in the intestine or glands, for example ) ( for example at the skin), or the lumen, and a basal side connected by a basement membrane with the underlying tissue is. The polarity of epithelial cells is characterized by structural and functional differences of apical and basal membrane of the epithelial cells.

Also in metastasis of tumors there is a Phänotypwechsel, wherein the tumor cells to change or lose their cell-specific properties, and thus acquire the ability to migrate.

• Biological process
• Cell Biology
• Tumor