Ras induces NBT-II epithelial cell scattering through the coordinate activities of Rac and MAPK pathways.

Cell dissociation and cell migration are the two main components of epithelium-mesenchyme transitions (EMT). We previously demonstrated that Ras is required for the accomplishment of both of these processes during the EGF-induced EMT of the NBT-II rat carcinoma cell line in vitro. In this study, we examined the downstream targets of Ras that are responsible for the dissociation and motility of NBT-II cells.

Induction and regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transitions.

Herein we discuss the factors that bring about the transformation of epithelial cells into cells of fibroblastic phenotype. This type of transformation, referred to as epithelium-to-mesenchyme transition (EMT), allows cells to dissociate from the epithelial tissue from which they originate and to migrate freely. EMT is therefore thought to play a fundamental role during the early steps of invasion and metastasis of carcinoma cells.