- TGFβ proteins trigger an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in carcinoma cells, making them more invasive and resistant to drugs, through pathways involving both SMAD and MAPK proteins.
- The study focuses on dual-specificity phosphatases (DUSPs) that regulate the activity of ERK1/2, and found that TGFβ1 stimulation decreases the expression of DUSP4 and DUSP13.
- Co-expressing DUSP4 and DUSP13 in A549 cells dampens TGFβ1-induced ERK1/2 activation and reduces migration, invasion, and drug resistance, highlighting their potential role in combating TGFβ1-driven malignancy.