Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) in wound healing: Exploring EMT mechanisms, regulatory network, and therapeutic opportunities
Wentao Yao,
Zhengchun Wang,
Huike Ma,
Yan Lin,
Xin Liu,
Ping Li,
Xiujuan He
Affiliations
Wentao Yao
Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100010, China
Zhengchun Wang
Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100010, China
Huike Ma
Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100010, China
Yan Lin
Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100010, China
Xin Liu
Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100010, China
Ping Li
Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100010, China
Xiujuan He
Corresponding author.; Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100010, China
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process by which epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal cell characteristics, is well recognized for its critical role in development, wound healing, tissue fibrosis, and cancer progression. During wound healing, keratinocytes undergo a partially reversible EMT process to promote migration and re-epithelialization. In this paper, we review the regulatory roles of key signaling pathways (TGF-β, Wnt/β-catenin, Notch) and core transcription factors (Snail, Slug, Twist) in EMT, explore the parallels between re-epithelialization and EMT, and outline recent therapeutic advances and future developments targeting EMT in wound healing. In addition, we call for the adoption of the term “epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity” (EMP) to more accurately describe the dynamic processes that occur during keratinocyte migration and re-epithelialization.
