Investigating Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition with Integrated Computational and Experimental Approaches

TL;DR

This paper reviews the complex process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), highlighting its partial states, regulatory mechanisms, and its integration with other biological processes, emphasizing its importance in development and disease.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of recent theoretical and experimental studies on EMT, including intermediate states, signaling control, and interactions with other cellular processes.

Findings

Partial EMT states contribute to cell plasticity.

Signaling pathways regulate transition commitment.

EMT's role in development and disease is extensively reviewed.

Abstract

The transition between epithelial and mesenchymal (EMT) is a fundamental cellular process that plays critical roles in development, cancer metastasis, and tissue wound healing. EMT is not a binary process but involves multiple partial EMT states that give rise to a high degree of cell state plasticity. Here, we first reviewed several studies on theoretical predictions and experimental verification of these intermediate states, the role of partial EMT on kidney fibrosis development, and how quantitative signaling information controls cell commitment to partial or full EMT upon transient signals. Next, we summarized existing knowledge and open questions on the coupling between EMT and other biological processes, such as the cell cycle, epigenetic regulation, stemness, and apoptosis. Taken together, EMT is a model system that has attracted increasing interests for quantitative experimental and theoretical studies.