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WT1 in disease: shifting the epithelial–mesenchymal balance
Author(s) -
MillerHodges Eve,
Hohenstein Peter
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.2977
Subject(s) - mesenchymal stem cell , epithelial–mesenchymal transition , context (archaeology) , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , disease , pathology , cancer research , transition (genetics) , gene , medicine , genetics , paleontology
WT1 is a versatile gene that controls transitions between the mesenchymal and epithelial state of cells in a tissue‐context dependent manner. As such, WT1 is indispensable for normal development of many organs and tissues. Uncontrolled epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a hallmark of a diverse array of pathologies and disturbance of mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET) has been associated with a number of developmental abnormalities. It is therefore not surprising that WT1 has been linked to many of these. Here we review the role of WT1 in proper control of the mesenchymal–epithelial balance of cells and discuss how far these roles can explain the role of WT1 in a variety of disease states. Copyright © 2011 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.