转分化是一种类型的细胞或组织在某些理化因素作用下转变为另一种正常细胞或组织的现象。这种细胞表型转化对机体具有修复损伤或加重病变的双重生物学意义。机体通过细胞转分化来代替或修复受损组织和功能,但若损害因素的长期存在使得分化后的细胞过度分泌炎症因子和细胞外基质,则可引起组织的过度增生、纤维化、钙化及肿瘤形成。本文就转分化的病理生理意义做一简述。
Transdifferentiation is a process in which a cell type committed to a particular specialization shifts to another quite distinct type. It occurs during embryological development and some pathological processes. This phenomenon has dual cell biological significances to body as reparation and deterioration. Recent findings indicate that mature cells can differentiate into cells of multiple tissues including kidney, lung, liver, skin and GI tract and fibers of heart and skeletal muscle under tissue recovery, also show long time impair factors contribute to disease progresses such as proliferation, fibrosis, calcification and the tumor cells generation. This review describes the recent findings in the context of transdifferentiation under pathophysiologic process.