Fig. 1
From: Toxic metals in the regulation of epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity: demons or angels?
An overview of the EMT process and classic gene markers. The EMT is a dynamic and reversible process modulated by epithelial and mesenchymal marker expression: Some of the typical epithelial markers include β-catenin (CTNNB1) and E-cadherin (CDH1), whereas mesenchymal markers include N-cadherin (CDH2), SNAI1/2 (SNAI1/2), and vimentin (VIM). Studies have shown that toxicologically relevant metals such as AS, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, and Cu can promote the progress of EMT, and three of these metals (AS, Cd, and Cu) may inhibit EMT