Characterization of cytoskeletal proteins in follicular structures of cows with cystic ovarian disease

The distribution of intermediate filaments (vimentin, cytokeratins, desmin) and microfilaments (alpha-smooth muscle actin and muscle specific actin) was studied immunohistochemically in bovine ovaries, with and without cystic ovarian disease. The immunohistochemically stained area (IHCSA), was quantified by image analysis, to evaluate the expression of these cytoskeletal proteins in the follicular wall of healthy antral, atretic, and cystic follicles. The granulosa cell layer of cystic follicles and atretic follicles had a significantly larger IHCSA for vimentin than did healthy antral follicles. Cytokeratins reacted lightly in the granulosa cells of antral follicles of normal ovaries, whereas granulosa cells of atretic and cystic follicles showed significantly higher IHCSA values. Immunohistochemical localization of desmin, muscle specific actin, and alpha-smooth muscle actin was restricted to the theca externa. This study supports earlier suggestions that strongly positive reactions with vimentin and cytokeratin antibodies observed in the granulosa cells of cystic follicles are due to the reorganization that occurs in the follicle during the process of cystic development, and are associated with changes in the expression of cytoskeletal proteins that are essential to proper cellular functioning.     

Expression of cytoskeletal proteins in the follicular wall of induced ovarian cysts

Several experimental models have been developed for the study of the polycystic ovarian syndrome in the rat. In the present study, the syndrome was induced by exposure to constant light, and the expression of cytoskeletal proteins in the follicular wall was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. We analyzed the immunohistochemically stained area (IHCSA) by image analysis to evaluate the expression of intermediate filaments (vimentin, desmin, cytokeratins, gliofibrillary acidic protein and neurofilaments) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) in cystic ovaries in relation to normal ovaries. The granulosa cell layer of cystic follicles had a significantly greater IHCSA for vimentin than the normal antral follicles. This difference was also significant between atretic and antral follicles. Cytokeratins showed a very low expression in the granulosa cells of antral follicles of control ovaries while in granulosa cells of atretic and cystic follicles they showed a significantly higher IHCSA. Immunohistochemical localization of desmin and alpha-SMA was restricted to the theca externa. Immunoreactivity for gliofibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament was negative. The highest intensity in the staining with vimentin and cytokeratins observed in the granulosa cells of the cystic follicles is probably due to structural and functional changes that occur during the process of cystogenesis and they could be associated with intense changes in the expression of cytoskeletal proteins that may be essential to the proper cellular functioning.     

Distribution of intermediate filament proteins in normal and diseased human glomeruli.

The distribution of intermediate filament proteins (vimentin, desmin, and cytokeratin) was studied by means of immunofluorescence in the normal human and rat glomerulus and in pathologic human glomeruli. Antifibronectin antibodies were used as mesangial markers. In normal human glomeruli, vimentin antibodies stained endothelial cells, podocytes, and mesangial cells; desmin antibodies, surprisingly, stained podocytes. In normal rat glomeruli, the pattern of vimentin staining was the same as in humans, but desmin antibodies stained both mesangial cells and podocytes. In human and rat glomeruli cytokeratin staining was confined to segments of Bowman's capsule. In human pathologic glomeruli, vimentin and desmin antibodies stained the structures that were positive in normal glomeruli, giving a characteristic pattern for each pathologic condition examined. These results are compatible with the mesenchymal origin of podocytes and mesangial cells and suggest that both cells have smooth muscle-like phenotypic features. Mesangial cells may have slightly different differentiation paths in humans and rats, leading to a distinct expression of intermediate filament proteins.     

Intermediate filament proteins in TPA-treated skeletal muscle cells in culture

Summary The cocarcinogenic phorbol ester 13-tetradecanoyl-O-phorbol acetate selectively and reversibly inhibits the ongoing differentiation programme of chick muscle cells in culture. 13-tetradecanoyl-O-phorbol acetate promptly blocks spontaneous contractions in mature myotubes and induces them to retract, forming giant myosacs and concurrently stress fibre-like structures are assembled. Using indirect immunofluorescence to localise desmin, the muscle specific intermediate filament protein, it was shown that its distribution is longitudinally oriented in mature myotubes. In myosacs, desmin has a reticular pattern although not as linearly oriented as in control myotubes. Using gel electrophoresis of control and 13-tetradecanoyl-O-phorbol acetate treated cell extracts, three major protein bands were observed with molecular weight of 43, 50 and 55 kDa. They migrate as actin, desmin and vimentin, respectively. The 50 kDa and 55 kDa proteins were expressed more in 13-tetradecanoyl-O-phorbol acetate-treated cells. The 50 kDa band was confirmed as desmin by immunoblotting using anti-chicken desmin antibody. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis showed the appearance of more acidic isoforms of the 50 and 55 kDa proteins 13-tetradecanoyl-O-phorbol in acetate-treated cells. The 43 kDa protein was seen as three distinct isoforms in control cells and as only two isoforms in 13-tetradecanoyl-O-phorbol acetate-treated cells.     

Cytoskeletal proteins in thymic epithelial cells of the Australian lungfish Neoceratodus forsteri

The vertebrate thymus consists of distinctive subpopulations of epithelial cells that contain a diverse repertoire of cytoskeletal proteins. In this study of the thymus in the Australian lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri , immunohistochemistry was used to distinguish the cytoskeletal proteins present in each class of thymic epithelial cell. A panel of antibodies (Abs), each specific for a different cytoskeletal polypeptide (keratins, vimentin, desmin, actin and tubulins), was used on paraffin and ultrathin resin sections of thymus. Ab AE I (reactive against human type I cytokeratins (CK) 14, 16 and 19) selectively stained the cytoplasm of capsular, trabecular and the outermost epithelial cells of Hassall's corpuscles. Anti-CK 10 Abs strongly labelled the capsular epithelial cells and less than 20% of cortical and medullary epithelial cells. The anti-50-kDa desmin Ab did not react with any thymic cells, whereas the anti-53-kDa desmin Ab labelled some capsular, cortical and medullary thymic epithelial cells. The anti-vimentin Ab stained most of the capsular and ~60% of the cortical epithelium. Thymic nurse cells and Hassall's corpuscles were found to be devoid of actin, which was strongly detected in medullary and perivascular epithelium. Both α and β tubulins were detected in all thymic cells. This study extends the concept of thymic epithelial heterogeneity. The complexity of thymic epithelium in N. forsteri may indicate a relationship between thymic epithelial subpopulations and the thymic microenvironment. These data identify anti-keratin Abs as a valuable tool for studying differentiation and ontogeny of the thymic epithelium in N. forsteri .     

Markers of complement-dependent and complement-independent glomerular visceral epithelial cell injury in vivo. Expression of antiadhesive proteins and cytoskeletal changes.

BACKGROUND: Visceral glomerular epithelial cells (GEC) are an important component of the glomerular filtration barrier to proteins. While ultrastructural GEC changes have frequently been observed in proteinuric states, no suitable light microscopic markers of GEC injury have yet been identified. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We have analyzed in vivo the GEC expression of proteins known to be involved in cell shape changes. SPARC (osteonectin, BM-40) and tenascin (cytotactin, J1, hexabrachion) belong to a group of anti-adhesive glycoproteins, that modulate cell-matrix interactions. We also studied cytoskeletal intermediate filament proteins, including desmin and vimentin. The GEC expression of SPARC, tenascin, desmin, and vimentin was analyzed in various types of GEC injury in the rat, including complement-mediated injury (passive Heymann nephritis, autologous immune complex nephritis, conA anti-conA nephritis), complement-independent injury (nephrotoxic nephritis), toxic injury (aminonucleoside nephrosis) and hypertensive injury (5/6 nephrectomy, angiotensin-II infusion). A complement-mediated model of mesangial cell injury (anti-Thy 1.1 mesangial proliferative nephritis) served as a control. RESULTS: SPARC mRNA and protein were constitutively expressed in normal rat glomeruli. Immunostaining and immunoelectron microscopy primarily localized SPARC to the cytoplasm of GEC. Markedly increased glomerular SPARC synthesis and GEC immunostaining was observed in all instances of complement-mediated GEC injury but in none of the other conditions. In contrast, glomerular immunostaining for tenascin, that also stained in a GEC pattern, either remained unchanged or increased to a minor degree (complement-mediated models). GEC immunostaining for desmin in normal rats was low and variable, and increased significantly in any form of GEC injury but not in anti-Thy 1.1 nephritis. No concomitant increase of GEC immunostaining for vimentin was detectable, which could have been due to the constitutively high expression of vimentin in GEC. CONCLUSIONS: SPARC and desmin, but not tenascin or vimentin, are suitable light microscopic markers of GEC injury. The combined staining for these proteins may be useful in differentiating the mechanisms of GEC injury.     

Cytoskeletal properties of alveolar soft part sarcoma

The immunohistochemical expression of cytoskeletal proteins in alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) was studied by light and electron microscopy. Of the five cases examined by the avidinbiotin-peroxidase complex method, variable numbers of immunoreactive cells for desmin were found in three, for vimentin in two, for muscle-specific actins in three, and for alpha-smooth muscle actin in four. Immunoelectron microscopic study demonstrated that desmin and vimentin were localized on whorled bundles of intermediate filaments in the perinuclear cytoplasm. In addition, a few dispersed intermediate filaments became evident in specimens treated with saponin and fixed with tannic acid. These immunohistochemical results indicate that a few tumor cells of ASPS may express some properties of the cytoskeleton of smooth muscle cells in addition to those of skeletal muscle cells. Considering the discrepancies reported in the actin isoforms demonstrated in myogenic tumors, we conclude that ASPS is probably a peculiar, primitive myogenic tumor that does not show any distinctive features of rhabdomyogenic or leiomyogenic differentiation.     

Adenomatoid odontogenic tumour: co-expression of keratin and vimentin

Summary Immunohistochemical observations of intermediate sized proteins in five cases of adenomatoid odontogenic tumour (AOT) are described. The immunohistochemical detections of keratins were made with polyclonal antiserum (TK, 41–65 kDa) and three monoclonal keratin antibodies (KL1: 55–57 kDa; PKK1: 40, 45, and 52.5 kDa and nos. 19, 18, 8; K8.12: nos. 16, 13) and vimentin and desmin monoclonal antibodies. Histologically, the tumour epithelia could be divided into two types: type A cells were a spindle or columnar shape and formed solid, ductal, tubular or whorled structures. Type B cells were small and compact cells at the periphery of the A cell-containing focus. Immunohistochemically, the type A cells showed very slight reaction with all antibodies to keratins, whereas the type B cells indicated slight-to-moderate expression of keratin and vimentin, and showed coexpression. Both types of cell showed a negative reaction for desmin. Only one case was associated with cystic lesions, and the cyst-lining was composed of thin squamous epithelium. Keratin expression in this epithelium was strong. In the histogenesis of AOT it was postulated that the tumour cells may have originated from undifferentiated odontogenic epithelium or stratum intermedium cells.     

Phenotypic variants of the smooth-muscle cells in an atheromatous plaque of the human aorta

The authors investigated the expression of cytoskeletal proteins and the ultrastructure of cells in normal intima and atheromatous plaque of human aorta. It has been established, using double immunofluorescent method and a set of antibodies that intimal smooth muscle cells /SMC/ of normal aorta express myosin, vimentin, alpha-actin and actin but not desmin. In seven out of 28 atherosclerotic plaques the cells contained desmin and all other SMC cytoskeletal proteins were found. These cells had the ultrastructural features of SMC, i.e. well-developed endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. Besides, some cells in 13 atherosclerotic plaques proved to be myosin-, alpha-actin- and desmin-negative. The cells were stained with monoclonal antibodies specific to SMC but not with macrophage-specific antibody. Ultrastructurally, the cytoplasm of the cells was filled with rough endoplasmic reticulum and a developed Golgi complex, but a certain portion of the cells retained basal lamina and myofilament bundles. The peculiarities of cytoskeletal protein in expression and ultrastructure of cells in human aortic atherosclerotic plaques may be explained by a phenotypic modulation of vascular SMC.     

Development of chick cardiomyocytes: modulation of intermediate filaments by basic fibroblast and platelet-derived growth factors

Recent studies suggest that peptide growth factors play a functional role in cardiac muscle. To test whether embryonic cardiac muscle is a target for regulation by basic fibroblast growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor, we analyzed the effects of these peptides on the expression of the intermediate filaments desmin and vimentin at the subcellular level during development. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis, immunoblotting and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis were used to study the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor on cultures of chick cardiomyocytes during development. Cytoplasmic and cytoskeletal concentrations of desmin and vimentin were dependent on the stage of embryonic development and on the type of growth factor added to the culture. The most significant finding was the increase in desmin expression in the cytoplasmic and cytoskeletal compartments after treatment with basic fibroblast growth factor (10 ng/ml) of chick heart cells at Hamburger and Hamilton stage 19. In more mature stages, basic fibroblast growth factor did not modify the levels of desmin expression. However, this factor led to a progressive deceleration in the rate of increase in vimentin expression. Platelet-derived growth factor increased vimentin expression in all stages studied, the greatest increases appearing in early stages of heart development. Our findings support the hypothesis that basic fibroblast growth factor plays a role in cardiomyocyte differentiation during the early stages of development, whereas platelet-derived growth factor has a dedifferentiating effect.     

Heterogeneity of smooth muscle cells in atheromatous plaque of human aorta.

This study was undertaken to investigate the expression of cytoskeletal proteins and the ultrastructure of cells in normal intima and atheromatous plaque of human aorta. It has been established, using double-labeling immunofluorescence, that smooth muscle cells (SMC) in normal aortic intima contain myosin, vimentin, and alpha-actin but do not react with antibodies against desmin. In contrast, 7 of 28 atherosclerotic plaques contained many cells expressing desmin in addition to the other cytoskeletal proteins characteristic of normal intima SMC. These cells were localized predominantly in the plaque cap and had the ultrastructural features of modulated SMC, ie, well-developed endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. Besides, some cells in the 13 atherosclerotic plaques proved to be myosin, alpha actin, and desmin negative but contained vimentin and actin as revealed by fluorescent phalloidin. These cells were found in the immediate proximity of atheromatous material and reacted with a monoclonal antibody specific to SMC surface protein (11G10) but not with monoclonal anti-muscle actin (HHF35) and anti-macrophage (HAM56) antibodies. Electron microscopy of this plaque zone revealed that the cytoplasm of these cells was filled with rough endoplasmic reticulum and a developed Golgi complex. At the same time, a certain proportion of cells in this region retained morphologic features of differentiated SMC such as the presence of a basal lamina and myofilament bundles. The revealed peculiarities of cytoskeletal protein expression and the ultrastructure of cells in human aortic atherosclerotic plaques may be explained by a phenotypic modulation of vascular SMC.     

Immunocytochemical study of cytoskeletal proteins in centronuclear myopathies

The developmental status of muscle fibers was investigated in three cases of myotubular myopathy: one infant with the X-linked recessive form and two adult brothers with the autosomal, probably recessive, form of the disease. The presence of the developmentally regulated proteins desmin, vimentin and dystrophin was investigated by immunocytochemistry with the use of monoclonal antibodies. In the X-linked case, intense immunolabelling for vimentin and desmin was observed in the nuclear area of a great number of muscle fibers, while a few others showed sarcoplasmic dystrophin immunolabelling or were dystrophin-negative. In the adult cases, strong desmin immunoreactivity was observed, but only a few fibers labelled for vimentin. Dystrophin sarcolemmal immunolabelling was normal, but in some fibers dystrophin was observed in the area of the central nucleus. These findings are supportive of a maturational arrest of muscle fibers in the X-linked cases and possibly indicative of a similar mechanism in the adult form of centronuclear myopathy in these patients.     

Cytoskeletal features of immature pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells: the influence of pulmonary hypertension on normal development

Using an immunohistochemical technique, the development of the cytoskeletal proteins desmin, vimentin, and actin (using alpha isotype and non-isotype specific antibodies) was assessed using a semi-quantitative grading system in the pulmonary vascular smooth muscle of nine normal pigs and 19 normal humans at different ages, and in 13 children with pulmonary hypertensive congenital heart disease. In the normal of both species, immunostaining for vimentin decreased after birth and then increased gradually while immunostaining for desmin and alpha actin increased steadily with age. In pulmonary hypertension, immunostaining for alpha actin and vimentin showed an accelerated increase at between 2 and 8 months. Also, the media showed regional differences in immunostaining which preceded the development of intimal proliferation. The inner media showed less immunoreactivity for all cytoskeletal proteins studied than did the outer media. Within areas of intimal proliferation many cells were immunonegative. These results suggest that the cytoskeletal features of medial smooth muscle cells are remodelled in the normal infant; that this process is altered from at least 2 months in the pulmonary hypertensive infant; and that the smooth muscle cells immediately beneath the internal elastic lamina are remodelled before migrating to form intimal proliferation. Changes in cytoskeletal composition can be related to the previously described postnatal maturation of pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells.     

Vimentin filament-desmosome cytoskeleton of diverse types of human meningiomas. A distinctive diagnostic feature

Ten human meningiomas of different histologic subtypes (endotheliomatous, transitional, fibroblastic, and angioblastic) were examined for the expression of intermediate-sized filaments (IF) and desmosomal plaque proteins (desmoplakins I and II), using immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. All meningiomas gave a strong positive reaction for vimentin as well as for desmoplakins. IF of the cytokeratin type, desmin IF, and glial filaments were not detected in any of these tumors. The exclusive expression of vimentin in these tumors was confirmed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis of cytoskeletal proteins obtained after microdissection of well-defined tumor areas. Ultrastructural immunolocalization showed that, in the various tumors, vimentin IF were attached to the desmosomal plaques. With respect to the markers examined, all of the diverse types of meningiomas reacted like their putative non-neoplastic counterparts, i.e., arachnoidal cells. Our results indicate that the different histologic subtypes of meningiomas are derived from cells of the arachnoidal layer. The exclusive expression of vimentin-type IF in combination with desmoplakins is very unusual and so far seems unique to arachnoidal and meningioma cells. We consider this unusual combination, i.e., vimentin IF and desmoplakin plaques, to be a diagnostic feature for meningiomas, and we propose that the cytoskeletal property be used in differential diagnosis of intracranial tumors.     

Proteins of intermediate filaments. An immunohistochemical and biochemical approach to the classification of soft tissue tumors

The intermediate filament cytoskeleton of various types of human soft tissue tumors was analyzed by immunofluorescence microscopy with the use of specific antibodies against cytokeratins, vimentin, and desmin, as well as by one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of high-salt buffer- and detergent-resistant cytoskeletal preparations. All leiomyomas as well as a leiomyosarcoma contained desmin. Leiomyomas of both gastrointestinal and uterine derivation and the retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma showed strong reaction for desmin in the smooth muscle cells, but the latter two exhibited also vimentin staining. In embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas, desmin prevailed in the large, apparently well-differentiated rhabdomyoblasts; whereas the smaller, less differentiated tumor cells preferentially contained vimentin. Cells of malignant fibrous histiocytomas were characterized by their content of vimentin as the only intermediate filament protein present. In alveolar soft part sarcoma, a rare tumor of hitherto unknown histogenesis, vimentin and desmin co-existed within the same tumor cells, indicating, together with chemical determinations, the myogenic derivation of this neoplasm. The results show that immunologic and biochemical analysis of proteins associated with the intermediate filament cytoskeleton is a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of diverse neoplasms, particularly those with equivocal histologic features, and thus aids in the histogenetic classification of soft tissue tumors.     

一次力竭性离心运动损伤模型大鼠骨骼肌波形蛋白的表达

背景：由于不同学者采用的实验方法不同,对离心运动后细胞骨架蛋白的变化仍有争议。 目的：构建一次力竭性离心运动损伤大鼠模型,观察不同时刻骨骼肌细胞骨架波形蛋白表达的变化。 方法：雄性48只SD大鼠建立下坡跑运动损伤模型,按运动时间分为安静对照组、运动后即刻组、运动后12 h组、运动后24 h组、运动后48 h组和运动后72 h组,每组8只。各运动组大鼠以速度16 m/min,坡度-16°进行跑台运动,运动100 min后,休息5 min,然后再运动100 min;安静对照组不做运动。应用抗波形蛋白抗体对大鼠骨骼肌波形蛋白进行免疫组化染色,通过观察其目标面积百分比的变化反映在一次力竭性离心运动后不同时刻大鼠骨骼肌细胞骨架波形蛋白的表达水平。 结果与结论：大鼠骨骼肌细胞骨架波形蛋白目标面积百分比结果显示,安静对照组和运动后即刻组两组间差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05);与运动后即刻组相比,运动后12 h组目标面积百分比略有增加,但差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05);与运动后12 h组相比,运动后24 h组目标面积百分比略有增加,但差异无显著性意义     (P > 0.05);与安静对照组和运动后即刻组相比,运动后24 h组目标面积百分比有所增加(P < 0.05);与运动后即刻组和运动后12 h组相比,运动后48 h组目标面积百分比明显增加(P < 0.01);与运动后48 h组相比,运动后72 h组目标面积百分比有所下降(P < 0.05),但没有恢复到安静时水平。提示一次力竭性离心运动后,大鼠骨骼肌波形蛋白出现不同程度的表达,在运动后12 h逐渐增加,运动后48 h达峰值,随后波形蛋白表达开始减少。 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：肾移植;肝移植;移植;心脏移植;组织移植;皮肤移植;皮瓣移植;血管移植;器官移植;组织工程全文链接：     

Intermediate filament proteins increase during chronic stimulation of skeletal muscle

Summary Chronic low-frequency electrical stimulation of rabbit fast-twitch skeletal muscle induces increased levels of two intermediate filament proteins, desmin and vimentin, during the first 3 weeks of stimulation. These increases occur over the same timecourse as reported shifts in -actinin expression and increased Z-disc width, but precede the fast-to-slow shifts in contractile proteins, which have been described by others. Desmin and vimentin levels increase during the first 2 weeks of stimulation, at which time the increase in desmin appears to plateau while vimentin continues to increase significantly through 3 weeks of stimulation. Absolute amounts of vimentin are lower than desmin at all time points, however increases in desmin and vimentin levels are strongly correlated during the stimulation period, suggesting that the two proteins are coordinately increased during the initial phases of muscle transformation. We suggest that rapid increases in the expression of intermediate filament proteins, which coincide with alterations in Z-disc structure, may indicate a fortification of the force-bearing ultrastructure of the muscle fibre in response to the increased activity that is induced by stimulation. The presence of vimentin and elevated levels of desmin expression suggest that mature skeletal muscle reverts toward a developmental program of intermediate filament protein expression during fast-to-slow transformation.     

Role of the cytoskeleton in flow (shear stress)-induced dilation and remodeling in resistance arteries

Cytoskeletal proteins determine cell shape and integrity and membrane-bound structures connected to extracellular components allow tissue integrity. These structural elements have an active role in the interaction of blood vessels with their environment. Shear stress due to blood flow is the most important force stimulating the endothelium. The role of cytoskeletal proteins in endothelial responses to flow has been studied in resistance arteries using pharmacological tools and transgenic models. Shear stress activates extracellular “flow sensing” elements associated with a thick glycocalyx communicating the signal to membrane-bound complexes (integrins and/or dystrophin-dystroglycans) and to eNOS through a pathway involving the intermediate filament vimentin, the microtubule network and actin. When blood flow increases chronically the endothelium triggers diameter enlargement and medial hypertrophy. This is facilitated by the genetic absence of the intermediate filaments, vimentin and desmin suggesting that these elements oppose the process.     

Intermediate filaments and their interaction with membranes. The desmosome-cytokeratin filament complex and epithelial differentiation

Intermediate-sized filaments represent a class of morphologically similar but biochemically and immunologically distinguishable cytoplasmic protein polymer structures. Five major filament types have been identified (cytokeratin, vimentin, desmin, neurofilament protein, glia filament protein) and antibodies to these proteins have been used for distinguishing different cell types and tumors derived therefrom. Epithelial and carcinoma cells are characterized by the presence of cytokeratin filaments and desmosomal elements identified by antibodies to certain high molecular weight proteins of desmosomal plaques. However, the specific pattern of cytokeratin polypeptides is different in different epithelia. The potential value of cell type identification by immunological reactions with antibodies to cytoskeletal proteins in tumor diagnosis is discussed.