Figure 1.

Similarities between the EMT in cancerous cells and cytotrophoblast differentiation into extravillous trophoblast. (A) During malignant transformation, tumour cells undergo an EMT into invasive cells, which secrete increased levels of proteases and cytokines, leading to increased invasion. Secretion of chemokines, such as chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand-12 (CXCL12) and MIP-1α, leads to chemoattraction of leukocytes which play a role in tumour angiogenesis, and may secrete further cytokines which act upon the tumour cells. (B) During cytotrophoblast differentiation, trophoblast undergoes a transformation into invasive EVT and up-regulates proteases and cytokines. Interactions between decidual natural killer (NK) cells and EVT, for example the secretion of chemokines and proteases, are proposed to contribute to SA remodelling.