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Updated: Mar 22, 2026
Molecular Analysis of Endothelial-mesenchymal Transition Induced by Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling
Published on: August 3, 2018
Endothelial Mesenchymal Transition: Comparative Analysis of Different Induction Methods.
Mariana T Pinto1, Dimas T Covas2, Simone Kashima3
1Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Biomedical Research Building, 1501 NW 10th Avenue, Room 826, Miami, FL 33136 USA ; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Células-Tronco e Terapia Celular e Fundação Hemocentro de Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, SP Brazil ; Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP Brazil.
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) isoforms differentially induce Endothelial-Mesenchymal-Transition (EndMT) in various endothelial cells. Hypoxia reduces TGF-β
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Cellular Signaling
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Endothelial-Mesenchymal-Transition (EndMT) is crucial for cardiovascular development and implicated in fibrosis and cancer.
- Understanding EndMT's molecular mechanisms across different organs and pathologies is vital.
- Standardized protocols for EndMT induction and assessment are lacking.
Observation:
- Compared dose-dependent effects of TGF-β isoforms on EndMT in human coronary and pulmonary artery endothelial cells under normoxia and hypoxia.
- Observed spontaneous EndMT in endothelial cells over time in culture.
- Noted that TGF-β's EndMT induction varied by dose, endothelial cell type, and oxygen levels.
Findings:
- TGF-β's ability to induce EndMT is dependent on the dose and endothelial cell source.
- Hypoxia significantly reduces the potential of TGF-β to induce EndMT compared to normoxia.
- Endothelial cells exhibit intrinsic responses to TGF-β based on cell type and environmental conditions.
Implications:
- Optimizing TGF-β induction conditions is critical for studying EndMT.
- EndMT pathways can differ during development and in pathological states.
- Careful consideration is required when using TGF-β for EndMT mechanistic studies.
