Related Experiment Video For GRB2
Updated: Jun 17, 2025

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
Published on: October 27, 2020
TGF-β-induced lncRNA TBUR1 promotes EMT and metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma via hnRNPC-mediated GRB2 mRNA
Lijie Huang1, Xiaoxu Liu2, Qiuying Chen2
1State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China; Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China; Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China.
Abstract:
The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway is pivotal in inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and promoting cancer metastasis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as significant players in these processes, yet their precise mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that TGF-β-upregulated lncRNA 1 (TBUR1) is significantly activated by TGF-β via Smad3/4 signaling in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cells. Functionally, TBUR1 triggers EMT, enhances LUAD cell migration and invasion in vitro, and promotes metastasis in nude mice. Mechanistically, TBUR1 interacts with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (hnRNPC) to stabilize GRB2 mRNA in an m6A-dependent manner. Clinically, TBUR1 is upregulated in LUAD tissues and correlates with poor prognosis, highlighting its potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for LUAD. Taken together, our findings underscore the crucial role of TBUR1 in mediating TGF-β-induced EMT and metastasis in LUAD, providing insights for future therapeutic interventions.
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