From cells to organs: building polarized tissue

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Abstract
Most cells in the body are polarized, showing some level of shape and functional asymmetry, such as apico–basal or front–back polarity. Tissues are formed from the coordinated integration of individual cells into a multicellular structure, such as an epithelial tube. Polarity is established and controlled by highly conserved core complexes, including the PAR, Crumbs and Scribble complexes. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition and mesenchymal–epithelial transition are two processes by which cells can convert between two major types of cell polarity. Transcription factors that control these processes do so by controlling cell adhesion, extracellular matrix interactions and polarity complexes. Polarized tissues, such as tubular epithelia, form and are regulated by various mechanisms, which enable the formation of luminal structures. The extracellular matrix is a key determinant of tissue-polarity establishment, orientation and maintenance.