Cytokeratin 8 Rabbit Polyclonal Antibody

Function

Cytokeratins comprise a diverse group of intermediate filament proteins (IFPs) that are expressed as pairs in both keratinized and non-keratinized epithelial tissue. Cytokeratins play a critical role in differentiation and tissue specialization and function to maintain the overall structural integrity of epithelial cells. They have been found to be useful markers of tissue differentiation, which is directly applicable to the characterization of malignant tumors. Cytokeratin 8 expression is seen in epithelium and epithelium-derived tumors. The Cytokeratin 8 and 18 pair are normally expressed in simple epithelia, but not in stratified epithelial cells. Research indicates that squamous cell carcinomas derived from stratified epithelia show abnormal expression of Cytokeratin 8 and 18, although it is not known whether these proteins contribute to the malignant phenotype of the cells. Expression of Cytokeratin 8 and 18 in oral squamous cell carcinomas is an independent prognostic marker that indicates a poor prognosis. Cytokeratin 8 expression correlates with malignancy in leukoplakia and carcinomas of the head and neck; it is expressed in all non-small-cell lung cancers. Cytokeratin 8 has been shown to possess extracellular epitopes on tumor cells, which may represent valuable targets for therapy.

Background References

1. Stone M R et al. Specific interaction of the actin-binding domain of dystrophin with intermediate filaments containing keratin 19. Mol Biol Cell 16:4280-4293 (2005).

2. Barrett A W et al. An immunohistological study of cytokeratin 20 in human and mammalian oral epithelium. Arch Oral Biol 45:879-887 (2000).

Sequence Similarity

Belongs to the intermediate filament family.

Tissue Specificity

Observed in muscle fibers accumulating in the costameres of myoplasm at the sarcolemma membrane in structures that contain dystrophin and spectrin. Expressed in gingival mucosa and hard palate of the oral cavity.

Post-translational Modification

Phosphorylation on serine residues is enhanced during EGF stimulation and mitosis. Ser-74 phosphorylation plays an important role in keratin filament reorganization.; O-glycosylated. O-GlcNAcylation at multiple sites increases solubility, and decreases stability by inducing proteasomal degradation.; O-glycosylated (O-GlcNAcylated), in a cell cycle-dependent manner.

Subcellular Location

Cytoplasm. Nucleus.

UNIPROT

SwissProt: P05787 Human

SwissProt: P11679 Mouse

SwissProt: Q10758 Rat

Synonyms