Oncogenic role of talin-1 in glioma: Association with poor prognosis and regulation of the TGF-beta signaling pathway

TLN1, a cytoskeletal protein associated with various tumors, remains inadequately studied in gliomas. In this study, we examined the functional role and mechanisms of TLN1 in glioma pathogenesis. Utilizing public databases, we conducted differential expression, survival (Kaplan-Meier/ROC), and regression analyses, which were subsequently validated with institutional datasets and clinical tissues. In vitro experiments demonstrated that TLN1 knockdown in glioma cells resulted in reduced proliferation (CCK8/EDU), migration and invasion (wound healing/Transwell), and increased apoptosis (AO/EB/flow cytometry); these findings were corroborated by Western blot analyses. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) linked TLN1 to the TGF-beta signaling pathway, a connection further validated by Western blot and in vivo murine models. Both public and institutional data indicated that TLN1 was upregulated in gliomas, with elevated expression correlating with poor prognosis. Furthermore, TLN1 knockdown inhibited glioma growth and progression in vitro and in vivo, primarily through the TGF-beta signaling pathway. Our findings establish TLN1 as an oncogenic driver in gliomas and highlight its potential as a therapeutic target.