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Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
10:37

Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition

Published on: August 27, 2013

Notch and epithelial-mesenchyme transition in development and tumor progression: another turn of the screw

Joaquín Grego-Bessa1, Juan Díez, Luika Timmerman

  • 1Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CSIC), Campus Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain.

Cell Cycle (Georgetown, Tex.)
|June 16, 2004
PubMed

Insights

The Notch signaling pathway regulates cell development and can act as an oncogene or tumor suppressor in cancer. Notch promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process crucial for tumor progression and invasion.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular signaling pathways
  • Developmental biology
  • Cancer research

Background:

  • The Notch signaling system is fundamental for cell fate, stem cell maintenance, and differentiation in embryonic and adult tissues.
  • Dysregulation of Notch signaling in adults is linked to various cancers, where it can function as either an oncogene or a tumor suppressor.
  • Notch signaling interacts with other pathways during cellular transformation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Notch signaling in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
  • To explore the potential involvement of Notch in cancer progression via EMT.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Notch signaling pathways.
  • Investigation of Notch-induced EMT during cardiac valve formation.
  • Examination of snail induction and cadherin downregulation mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Notch signaling was shown to promote EMT during cardiac valve development.
  • This promotion occurred through the induction of snail and subsequent downregulation of cadherins.
  • These findings suggest a conserved mechanism for Notch-mediated EMT.

Conclusions:

  • Notch signaling plays a role in EMT, a process critical for embryonic development.
  • The mechanism of Notch-induced EMT, involving snail and cadherins, may be relevant to tumor progression.
  • Notch signaling could be a key factor in the EMT process driving cancer invasion and metastasis.

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