Osteopontin-A Master Regulator of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Journal Article

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Authors: Kothari, A. N.; Arffa, M. L.; Chang, V.; Blackwell, R. H.; Syn, W. K.; Zhang, J; Mi, Z.; Kuo, P. C.
Article Title: Osteopontin-A Master Regulator of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
Abstract: Osteopontin (OPN) plays an important functional role in both physiologic and pathologic states. OPN is implicated in the progression of fibrosis, cancer, and metastatic disease in several organ systems. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), first described in embryology, is increasingly being recognized as a significant contributor to fibrotic phenotypes and tumor progression. Several well-established transcription factors regulate EMT and are conserved across tissue types and organ systems, including TWIST, zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox (ZEB), and SNAIL-family members. Recent literature points to an important relationship between OPN and EMT, implicating OPN as a key regulatory component of EMT programs. In this review, OPN's interplay with traditional EMT activators, both directly and indirectly, will be discussed. Also, OPN's ability to restructure the tissue and tumor microenvironment to indirectly modify EMT will be reviewed. Together, these diverse pathways demonstrate that OPN is able to modulate EMT and provide new targets for directing therapeutics.
Journal Title: Journal of clinical medicine
Volume: 5
Issue: 4
ISSN: 2077-0383; 2077-0383
Publisher: Unknown  
Journal Place: Switzerland
Date Published: 2016
Start Page: 10.3390/jcm5040039
Language: eng
DOI/URL:

10.3390/jcm5040039
Notes: LR: 20160504; JID: 101606588; OID: NLM: PMC4850462; OTO: NOTNLM; 2015/12/21 [received]; 2016/02/08 [revised]; 2016/03/14 [accepted]; epublish