The role of endothelial-mesenchymal transition in development and pathological process

IUBMB Life ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 64 (9) ◽  
pp. 717-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Lin ◽  
Nan Wang ◽  
Tong-Cun Zhang
2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damian Medici

Endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is a fundamental cellular mechanism that regulates embryonic development and diseases such as cancer and fibrosis. Recent developments in biomedical research have shown remarkable potential to harness the EndMT process for tissue engineering and regeneration. As an alternative to traditional or artificial stem cell therapies, EndMT may represent a safe method for engineering new tissues to treat degenerative diseases by mimicking a process that occurs in nature. This review discusses the signaling mechanisms and therapeutic inhibitors of EndMT, as well as the role of EndMT in development, disease, acquiring stem cell properties and generating connective tissues, and its potential as a novel mechanism for tissue regeneration.


Author(s):  
Haijing Wang ◽  
Zhuolei Feng ◽  
Xue Han ◽  
Yue Xing ◽  
Xiaomei Zhang

The endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) participates in the progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR), but cell-intrinsic factors modulating this process remain elusive. In this study, we explored the role of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)-producing enzyme, acylglycerol kinase (AGK) in the EndMT of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRECs) under high glucose (HG) conditions. We found that AGK was significantly elevated in HG-treated cells. In addition, AGK knockdown reversed the HG-induced EndMT in HRECs, which was evidenced by the increased epithelial markers (CD31 and VE-cadherin) and decreased mesenchymal markers (FSP1 and α-SMA). Furthermore, downregulation of AGK inhibited the HG-induced activation of TGF-β/Notch pathways, whereas exogenous TGF-β1 (10 ng/ml) impeded the inhibitory effects of AGK knockdown on HG-induced EndMT in HRECs. Additionally, the silence of AGK abolished the HG-induced upregulation of LPA and its receptor LPAR1, and overexpression of LPAR1 further rescued the AGK knockdown-mediated inhibition of the EndMT process. In conclusion, we demonstrate that downregulation of acylglycerol kinase suppresses high glucose-induced endothelial-mesenchymal transition in HRECs through regulating the LPAR1/TGF-β/Notch signaling pathway, indicating that AGK might be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of DR.


Autophagy ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 404-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Yang ◽  
Bing Han ◽  
Yuan Zhang ◽  
Ying Bai ◽  
Jie Chao ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 309-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Chao ◽  
Xingang Wang ◽  
Yuxia Zhang ◽  
Tiebing Zhu ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
...  

Background: Silicosis is characterized by the accumulation of fibroblasts and the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix. Fibroblast generation via endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is one process responsible for this accumulation of fibroblasts. However, the mechanisms underlying EndMT remain unknown. Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to SiO2 (50 µg/cm2). Specific endothelial and mesenchymal markers were evaluated using immunofluorescence and western blot analysis. Functional changes were evaluated by analyzing cell migration and proliferation. LC3-adenovirus transfections were performed, and changes in autophagy were measured using a marker of autophagy. Results: SiO2 induced decreases in the endothelial cell-specific markers in HUVECs while dramatically increasing mesenchymal cell product levels and mesenchymal functions. Although MCPIP1 expression increased in parallel with the increase in specific mesenchymal cell products, the MCPIP1 expression level was not consistent with the observed decrease in specific endothelial marker expression. Autophagy mediated the effects of MCPIP1, as rapamycin and 3-MA enhanced and attenuated the effect of SiO2 on HUVECs, respectively. MAPKs and the PI3K/Akt pathway were involved in the regulation of MCPIP1 by SiO2, and Pyk2 and MLC-2 mediated cell migration. Conclusion: Our findings reveal a new potential function of MCPIP1, suggesting a possible mechanism of fibrosis in pulmonary silicosis.


2015 ◽  
Vol 309 (10) ◽  
pp. C680-C692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjukta Chakraborty ◽  
David C. Zawieja ◽  
Michael J. Davis ◽  
Mariappan Muthuchamy

The lymphatics have emerged as critical players in the progression and resolution of inflammation. The goal of this study was to identify specific microRNAs (miRNAs) that regulate lymphatic inflammatory processes. Rat mesenteric lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) were exposed to the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α for 2, 24, and 96 h, and miRNA profiling was carried out by real-time PCR arrays. Our data demonstrate a specific set of miRNAs that are differentially expressed (>1.8-fold and/or P < 0.05) in LECs in response to tumor necrosis factor-α and are involved in inflammation, angiogenesis, endothelial-mesenchymal transition, and cell proliferation and senescence. We further characterized the expression of miRNA 9 (miR-9) that was induced in LECs and in inflamed rat mesenteric lymphatics. Our results showed that miR-9 overexpression significantly repressed NF-κB expression and, thereby, suppressed inflammation but promoted LEC tube formation, as well as expression of the prolymphangiogenic molecules endothelial nitric oxide synthase and VEGF receptor type 3. LEC viability and proliferation and endothelial-mesenchymal transition were also significantly induced by miR-9. This study provides the first evidence of a distinct profile of miRNAs associated with LECs during inflammation. It also identifies the critical dual role of miR-9 in fine-tuning the balance between lymphatic inflammatory and lymphangiogenic pathways.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 01-08
Author(s):  
Lekshmy Jayan ◽  
R. Bharanidharan ◽  
Ramya Ramdas

Epithelial mesenchymal interactions are one of the most important process taking place in the body. It is an indispensable mechanism that mediates the development of numerous organs and organ systems especially tooth, salivary gland etc. It has been long implicated in the causation of numerous pathogenic processes especially cancer. The mechanism of epithelial mesenchymal interactions are a forerunner for epithelial mesenchymal transition, which is an important pathological process in the development of cancer. In this review, we have highlighted the role of epithelial mesenchymal interactions in normal embryogenesis as well in numerous pathological conditions.


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