1281-hiPS Cell Model for Holistic Study of EMT Transitions

This research introduces a robust experimental framework using human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cells to standardize the study of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). By utilizing both two-dimensional colonies and three-dimensional lumenoids, the authors provide a multimodal platform to observe functional, molecular, and organizational changes in a controlled environment. The study demonstrates that cell culture geometry significantly influences the timing of migration, with 3D structures exhibiting a delay compared to 2D formats. This delay is attributed to the presence of a self-deposited basement membrane, which acts as a physical barrier that cells must breach before dispersing. Ultimately, this work provides a comprehensive imaging-based dataset and analysis tools to help researchers understand how environmental context shapes fundamental cell state transitions.

References:

• Hookway C, Borensztejn A, Harris L K, et al. A human induced pluripotent stem cell model for the holistic study of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions[J]. Nature Methods, 2026: 1-13.