Table 1.
Across dynamic, structural, and molecular characteristics, pEMT and UJT are distinct.
| Evidence | pEMT | UJT |
|---|---|---|
| Motility | ↑ | ↑↑↑ |
| Cell elongation | ↑ | ↑↑↑ |
| Junctional Integrity | ↓ | Intact |
| Layer integrity | Disrupted | Intact |
| Apical/basal polarity | Lost | Intact |
| Epithelial markers | ↓ | Intact |
| Mesenchymal markers | ↑ | Not detected |
| Structural packs | No | Yes; increased over time |
| Cooperative motion | Initial trend, then lost | Yes; increased over time |
Across all characteristics, pEMT and UJT diverge. Trends are reported for pEMT and UJT, relative to the jammed condition. These findings establish that UJT is sufficient to account for vigorous epithelial layer migration even in the absence of pEMT.