Beyond Expectations: The Role of Keratin Intermediate Filament Proteins in Epidermal Integrity
January 2014
in “
International review of cell and molecular biology
”
TLDR Keratin proteins are crucial for healthy skin, but mutations can cause skin disorders with no effective treatments yet.
The document discusses the critical role of keratin intermediate filament proteins in maintaining the integrity of the epidermis, which is essential for protecting the body. Keratins form cell-specific cytoskeletal scaffolds that are vital for cell and tissue stability, and their expression and organization can change in response to stress to maintain tissue homeostasis. However, mutations in keratin genes can lead to acute and chronic skin disorders, for which there are no effective treatments currently available. The review highlights recent advancements in understanding how keratins contribute to the epidermis's cytoarchitecture, adhesion, signaling, and inflammation, emphasizing the importance of keratin isotypes in the functions of differentiated epithelial cells.
