EMT Flashcards

1
Q

EMT definition

A

loss of epithelial cell polarity, junctions and adhesions to gain migratory and invasive properties and form mesenchymal cells

common in the formation and metastasis of carcinomas

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2
Q

3 types of EMT

A
  1. MESENCHYMAL:
    - neural tube in the third week of gestation release cells forming neural crest that have epithelial origin but then migrate via EMT and become mesenchymal and responsible of CT
    -gastrulation: formation of the mesoderm occurs via EMT of the uper germ layer cells
  2. FIBROBLAST: wound healing, slightly more pathological: epithelial cells become fibroblasts accummulating collagen for fibrosis
  3. METASTATIC: carcinoma development and metastasis - destruction of basement membrane and movement intoblood vessels of underlying CT to migrate
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3
Q

characteristic epithelial markers

A

e-cadherins
cytokeratins
occludins and ZO1
desmoplakins
lamin

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4
Q

characteristics mesenchymal markers

A

n-cadherins
vimentin
fibronectin
alpa SMA
collagen type 1
MMPs

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5
Q

change in actin cytoskeleton over the EMT process

A

cortical actin in epithelial cells is lost and reverted into bundles of actin filaments in fibroblasts that optimise motility

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6
Q

what triggers the EMT process

A

upregulation of certain transcription factors like snail and twist

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7
Q

what is the result of MMP upregualation in the mesenchymal cells produced

A

matrix metalloproteinases
destroy components of ECM
allows increased cell motility

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8
Q

2 types of carcinomas examples

A
  1. renal cell: loss of e-cadherin and B-catenin, express vimentin but actin is still present –> no defined phenotype
  2. pancreatic cell: very agressive, e-cadherin/B-catenins are still expressed, negative for vimentin BUT express proteins that destroy basemement membrane

!! this occurs because cells do not become completely mesenchymal or epithelial –> EMT is NOT a not-or-all process so there are intermediate phenotypes

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9
Q

process of analysis of the carcinomas formed

A

2D monolayer or 3D spheroid models: analysis of the diff factors expressed and the degree of their expression

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