基质刚度和生长因子协同驱动上皮⁃间质转化的力⁃化耦合机制

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical step in physiological and pathological processes such as the embryonic development, the wound healing, and the cancer progression, wherein cells transition from a tightly adherent epithelial state to a dispersed mesenchymal state. An EMT core circuit model driven by the synergistic regulation of matrix stiffnesses and growth factors was proposed. The results show that, during the EMT, the matrix stiffnesses and growth factors collaboratively regulate the expression of the E/ N-cadherin, a typical cell-cell adhesion molecule, by modulating the EMT-activating transcription factors, thus influencing the progression and reversibility of the EMT. The model elucidates the mechanism of synergistic interactions between mechanical and chemical factors on cell-cell adhesion during the EMT, laying a theoretical foundation for understanding the occurrence, development mechanisms, and preventive strategies against diseases such as cancer.