Open AccessThe role of TGF-β-related signal transduction pathways in pathogenesis of epithelial-mesenchymal transition as a key element in cancer development and progression
Author(s) -
Małgorzata Pieniążek,
Piotr Donizy,
Marcin Ziętek,
B. Szynglarewicz,
Rafał Matkowski
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
postępy higieny i medycyny doświadczalnej
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.275
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1732-2693
pISSN - 0032-5449
DOI - 10.5604/17322693.1009653
Subject(s) - epithelial–mesenchymal transition , microbiology and biotechnology , mesenchymal stem cell , signal transduction , biology , transforming growth factor , metastasis , cell migration , cell adhesion , cell , cell growth , cancer research , cancer , cell signaling , cytokine , immunology , genetics
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process that drives polarized, immotile epithelial cells to undergo multiple biochemical changes to acquire a mesenchymal cell phenotype. The characteristic features of EMT are cell apolarity, loss of cellular adhesion, reduced expression of E-cadherin and increased migratory capacity, as well as invasiveness. EMT is a physiological process that is essential for normal embryonic development. Additionally, abnormal activation of EMT contributes to some human pathologies such as tissue fibrosis, cancer cell invasion and metastasis. In both situations, the basic molecular mechanisms are similar, but lead to different effects depending on cell type and biological conditions of the environment. TGF-β is a multifunctional cytokine that controls proliferation, differentiation and other functions in many cell types. It has been found that neoplastic development converts TGF-β into an oncogenic cytokine. It activates various molecular processes, which are engaged in EMT initiation. All that makes TGF-β a key regulator of EMT.