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Updated: Nov 8, 2025

Molecular Analysis of Endothelial-mesenchymal Transition Induced by Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling
Published on: August 3, 2018
αvβ3 Integrin induces partial EMT independent of TGF-β signaling
Yoshinobu Kariya1, Midori Oyama2, Takato Suzuki3,4
1Department of Biochemistry, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima City, 960-1295, Japan. kariya@fmu.ac.jp.
Abstract:
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a pivotal role for tumor progression. Recent studies have revealed the existence of distinct intermediate states in EMT (partial EMT); however, the mechanisms underlying partial EMT are not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate that αvβ3 integrin induces partial EMT, which is characterized by acquiring mesenchymal phenotypes while retaining epithelial markers. We found αvβ3 integrin to be associated with poor survival in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Moreover, αvβ3 integrin-induced partial EMT promoted migration, invasion, tumorigenesis, stemness, and metastasis of lung cancer cells in a TGF-β-independent fashion. Additionally, TGF-β1 promoted EMT progression synergistically with αvβ3 integrin, while a TGF-β signaling inhibitor showed no effect on αvβ3 integrin-induced partial EMT. Meanwhile, the microRNA-200 family abolished the αvβ3 integrin-induced partial EMT by suppressing αvβ3 integrin cell surface expression. These findings indicate that αvβ3 integrin is a key inducer of partial EMT, and highlight a new mechanism for cancer progression.
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