Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition and Tissue Healing

Abstract

Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the ability of the cells to lose the epithelial features with gaining of mesenchymal one. It is a dynamic and reversible process induced by damage, hypoxia or inflammation. The execution of EMT events could be complete or partial during tissue repair of different organs. During wound healing, EMT has important role for re-epithelialization, angiogenesis and for Langerhans cells immunologic role. On the other hand, sustained EMT is a key mechanism underlying the wound scaring, fibrotic pathology of multiple organs, cataract and endometriosis. Hence, the understanding of EMT regulation during wound healing and tissue repair has important clinical implications as chronic wounds represent major health care costs. EMT could yield adult cells with stem cell characteristics. Therefore, one could predict that, it contributes to the pool of different progenitor cells to maintain organs homeostasis. Further analyses are necessary to determine whether EMT in normal tissues leads to the production of normal stem cells.