Cytokeratin

Cytokeratin is a type of keratin that is found in the intracytoplasmic cytoskeleton of epithelial tissue. It plays a vital role in maintaining the overall structural integrity of epithelial cells and also functions in several types of cell movements, including those involved in wound healing and tissue repair.

Structure

Cytokeratins are a subfamily of intermediate filaments and are characterized by their diversity and cell type-specific expression patterns. They are divided into two types: Type I, the acidic cytokeratins, and Type II, the basic to neutral cytokeratins. Each epithelial cell type expresses a specific combination of Type I and Type II cytokeratins, which helps in the identification of different types of epithelial tissues under the microscope.

Function

Cytokeratins play a crucial role in mechanical support and cytoplasm organization in epithelial cells. They also participate in cell signaling and protect epithelial tissues from damage. In addition, cytokeratins are involved in cell movement, particularly during wound healing and tissue repair.

Clinical significance

Cytokeratins are often used in diagnostic pathology as markers of epithelial differentiation. They can be detected in tissue samples using immunohistochemistry, which can help in the diagnosis of various types of cancers, including carcinomas. In addition, changes in the expression or organization of cytokeratins can indicate pathological conditions such as cancer and epidermolysis bullosa, a group of genetic conditions that cause the skin to be very fragile and to blister easily.

See also

• Keratin
• Epithelial tissue
• Carcinoma
• Epidermolysis bullosa

References

Cytokeratin Resources
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