Cytokeratin 4 antibody [6B10]

Intermediate filaments are abundant cytoplasmic structural proteins in most vertebrate cells. Cytokeratins, a group comprised of at least 29 different proteins are characteristic of epithelial and trichocytic cells. Cytokeratin 4 is a member of the type II, neutralto- basic subfamily. It is a 59 kD polypeptide differentially expressed in various human tissues. Cytokeratin 4 can be detected by biochemical or immunohistochemical means in adult non-cornified squamous epithelium such as that of the superficial and intermediate cells of the esophagus, exocervix, tongue, vagina, larynx,pharynx, epiglottis, and anus as well as in the superficial cells of the cornea. In addition, its presence was demonstrated in suprabasal cells of the urinary bladder transitional epithelium, in single cells and cell groups of sweat glands and prostatic ducts and in cylindrical ciliated bronchial cells. Cytokeratin 4 may be detected in squamous cell carcinomas derived from several non-cornified stratified epithelia. Monoclonal anti-cytokeratins are specific markers of epithelial cell differentiation and have been widely used as tools in tumor identification and classification. Monoclonal anti-Cytokeratin 4 is a chain specific antibody which may facilitate typing of normal, metaplastic and neoplastic cells.