COMPOSITIONS FOR INHIBITING AND/OR BLOCKING EPITHELIAL-MESENCHYMAL TRANSITION

摘要

A description is given of 5'-methylthioadenosin (MTA) as a compound capable of inhibiting and/or blocking epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), the process whereby epithelial cells convert to mesenchymal cells. Periodic ingestion of MTA significantly improves fibrosis and hepatic-cell damage markers in KO-Mdr2 mice with MTA (28 mg/kg) (every 24 hours for 2 days). After daily oral administration of MTA, not only the expression of EMT markers in the liver overall but also appreciable signs of fibrosis are significantly reduced, indicating the beneficial effect of MTA on the liver affected by a lack of Mdr2. MTA is proposed as a safe drug, suitable for oral formulation without side effects, for preventing and/or treating diseases linked to said EMT, including chronic cholestatic diseases, fibrosis and cholangiocarcinoma. Furthermore, MTA is proposed for application in anti-tumour therapies, in which it inhibits or blocks the EMT properties of CSC cells, improving the prognosis in the development of the tumour and the malignancy thereof.