Keratin Function and Regulation in Tissue Homeostasis and Pathogenesis
April 2012
in “
Biomolecular concepts
”
keratin epithelial integrity keratin intermediate filament proteins epithelial-mesenchymal transition EMT keratin cytoskeleton posttranslational modifications keratin isotypes cytoarchitecture epidermal keratin disorders keratin proteins keratin structure keratin modifications keratin types cell structure skin keratin disorders
TLDR Keratin is crucial for keeping skin cells healthy and its changes can lead to diseases and affect cell behavior.
The document from April 1, 2012, discusses the role of keratin intermediate filament proteins in maintaining epithelial integrity and their emerging involvement in growth control and organelle functions. It highlights that mutations or posttranslational modifications of the keratin cytoskeleton can make epithelia vulnerable to damage and stress, and that a loss of keratin expression is indicative of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The paper emphasizes the complexity of understanding the molecular mechanisms of keratin functions, and it reviews how the cell-specific expression of keratin isotypes influences cytoarchitecture and cell behavior, as well as how posttranslational modifications affect keratin organization and interactions during signaling. It also discusses the pathomechanisms of epidermal keratin disorders based on new data and suggests future research directions to answer unresolved questions.
