Genetic programs of epithelial cell plasticity directed by transforming growth factor-beta.

ABSTRACT: Epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) are an essential manifestation of epithelial cell plasticity during morphogenesis, wound healing, and tumor progression. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) modulates epithelial plasticity in these physiological contexts by inducing EMT. Here we report a transcriptome screen of genetic programs of TGF-beta-induced EMT in human keratinocytes and propose functional roles for extracellular response kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling in cell motility and disruption of adherens junctions. We used DNA arrays of 16,580 human cDNAs to identify 728 known genes regulated by TGF-beta within 4 hours after treatment. TGF-beta-stimulated ERK signaling mediated regulation of 80 target genes not previously associated with this pathway.

SUBMITTER: Zavadil J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC34413 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature