Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in development, tissue repair and carcinogenesis involves cellular plasticity with varying degrees of epithelial and mesenchymal properties. Several recent studies have focused on EMT phenotypic dynamism; however, information on cellular interaction in the context of EMT is inadequate. In our previous study, we investigated EMT phenotypic plasticity and anticipated it as a population driven interactive process. Present study has characterized cellular connectivity as a representative of interactivity during EMT in epithelial normal and cancer cell. It has also explored dynamism of connectivity and phenotype employing Markov model. Further, plasticity was substantiated with cell surface microvilli and molecular marker. The study unveiled interplay between phenotype and connectivity too. Findings have revealed that intercellular connectivity fueled EMT plasticity and its dynamism was more prominent in cancer population. However, normal cells are more vibrant in transition and phenotypic plasticity. We have proposed connectivity plasticity as a hallmark of EMT and needs to be studied in depth. Present study also paves the way in translating in vitro EMT findings in histopathological practices.

上皮间质转化（EMT）在发育，组织修复和癌变中涉及具有不同程度的上皮和间质特性的细胞可塑性。最近的一些研究集中在EMT表型活力上。但是，有关EMT中细胞相互作用的信息是不充分的。在我们以前的研究中，我们调查了EMT表型可塑性，并将其作为人口驱动的交互过程进行了预测。目前的研究已将细胞连通性表征为上皮正常细胞和癌细胞在EMT过程中相互作用的代表。它还使用马尔可夫模型探索了连接性和表型的动态性。此外，用细胞表面微绒毛和分子标记物证实了可塑性。该研究还揭示了表型和连通性之间的相互作用。研究结果表明，细胞间的连通性助长了EMT的可塑性，其动态性在癌症人群中更为突出。但是，正常细胞在过渡和表型可塑性方面更具活力。我们已提出连通性可塑性作为EMT的标志，需要深入研究。目前的研究也为翻译铺平了道路体外EMT在组织病理学实践中的发现。