| Definition: |
A transition where a cardiac endothelial cell loses apical/basolateral polarity, severs intercellular adhesive junctions, degrades basement membrane components and becomes a migratory mesenchymal cell. Endocardial cells (specialized endothelial cells that line the heart) undergo EndMT, and give rise to mesenchymal cells necessary for proper heart development. EndMT, specifically generates valve progenitor cells that give rise to the mitral and tricuspid valves. EndMT also contributes to endocardial cushion formation, as well as to generation of cardiac fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells, but not cardiac myocytes. |