Epithelial-Mesenchymal Plasticity Induced by Discontinuous Exposure to TGFβ1 Promotes Tumour Growth.

ABSTRACT: Transitions between epithelial and mesenchymal cellular states (EMT/MET) contribute to cancer progression. We hypothesize that EMT followed by MET promotes cell population heterogeneity, favouring tumour growth. We developed an EMT model by on and off exposure of epithelial EpH4 cells (E-cells) to TGFβ1 that mimics phenotypic EMT (M-cells) and MET. We aimed at understanding whether phenotypic MET is accompanied by molecular and functional reversion back to epithelia by using RNA sequencing, immunofluorescence (IF), proliferation, wound healing, focus formation and mamosphere formation assays as well as cell xenografts in nude mice. Phenotypic reverted epithelial cells (RE-cells) obtained after MET induction presented epithelial morphologies and proliferation rates resembling E cells. Howev

SUBMITTER: Santos M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9312510 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature