RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Epithelial–mesenchymal transition in lung development and disease: does it exist and is it important?
JF Thorax
JO Thorax
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Thoracic Society
SP 760
OP 765
DO 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2013-204608
VO 69
IS 8
A1 Domokos Bartis
A1 Nikica Mise
A1 Rahul Y Mahida
A1 Oliver Eickelberg
A1 David R Thickett
YR 2014
UL http://thorax.bmj.com/content/69/8/760.abstract
AB Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process when epithelial cells gradually transform into mesenchymal-like cells losing their epithelial functionality and characteristics. EMT is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of numerous lung diseases ranging from developmental disorders, fibrotic tissue remodelling to lung cancer. The most important question—namely what is the importance and contribution of EMT in the pathogenesis of several chronic lung conditions (asthma, COPD, bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and lung fibrosis)—is currently intensely debated. This review gives a brief insight into the mechanism and assessment methods of EMT in various pulmonary diseases and summarises the recent literature highlighting the controversial experimental data and conclusions.