EMT (Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition)

La transizione epiteliale-mesenchimale (EMT) è un processo mediante il quale le cellule epiteliali perdono la loro polarità cellulare e l’adesione cellula-cellula e acquisiscono proprietà migratorie e invasive per diventare cellule staminali mesenchimali.

Le cellule epiteliali sono strettamente collegati tra loro da giunzioni strette e hanno una polarità apico-basale. 

Le cellule mesenchimali, invece, sono prive di questa polarizzazione, hanno una morfologia a forma di fuso e interagiscono tra loro solo attraverso punti focali.

Le cellule mesenchimali sono cellule stromali totipotenti  che possono differenziarsi in una varietà di tipi di cellule. 

L’EMT è essenziale per numerosi processi di sviluppo tra cui la formazione del mesoderma e la formazione del tubo neurale nell’embrione. È stato anche dimostrato che l’EMT si verifica nella guarigione delle ferite, nella fibrosi degli organi.

L’EMT e la sua transizione inversa MET sono fondamentali nel processo di chemioresistenza e diffusione delle metastasi nella progressione del cancro.  L’EMT è associata alla progressiva ridistribuzione o sottoregolazione delle proteine ​​della giunzione specifiche delle cellule epiteliali apicali e basolaterali, come la E-caderina e la citocheratina, e la nuova espressione di molecole mesenchimali, come la vimentina e la N-caderina.

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