Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
Published on: August 27, 2013
Relevance of the stroma and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) for the rheumatic diseases
1School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0656, USA. nzvaifler@ucsd.edu
Abstract:
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a term applied to the process whereby cells undergo a switch from an epithelial phenotype with tight junctions, lateral, apical, and basal membranes, and lack of mobility into mesenchymal cells that have loose interactions with other cells, are non-polarized, motile and produce an extracellular matrix. The importance of this process was initially recognized from a very early step in embryology, but more recently as a potential mechanism for the progression and spread of epithelial cancers. As the sequence of morphological changes has become understood in molecular terms, diseases characterized by alterations in stromal elements and fibrosis are being considered as examples of EMT. This review will focus on the pathogenetic features of immune-mediated renal disease, systemic sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis that could be explained by EMT.
Related Concept Videos
Extracellular Matrix
Mesenchymal Stem Cells
The Tumor Microenvironment
The Extracellular Matrix
The Extracellular Matrix
In order to maintain tissue organization, many animal cells are surrounded by structural molecules that make up the extracellular matrix (ECM). Together, the molecules in the ECM maintain the structural integrity of tissue as well as the remarkable specific properties of certain tissues.
Composition of the Extracellular Matrix
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is commonly composed of ground substance, a gel-like fluid, fibrous components, and many structurally and functionally diverse...
Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

