الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 146 |  |  |
| | | from | 146 | | |
Abstract
Cytokeratins are intermediate filaments (IF) characteristic of epithelial cells and about 20 different keratin subunits have been identified. Keratin mutations have now been demonstrated in a number of disorders characterized by varying degrees of epidermal fragility with secondary hyperkeratosis. The cytokeratin pattern of epithelial cells has been used to determine cell origin and to evaluate cell differentiation in vivo and in vitro. As cytokeratins represent the most abundant proteins in the hair follicle and are generally accepted markers for the type and stage of epithelial differentiation, these constituents can serve as key molecular markers for differentiation events in the hair follicle. The capability to alter the organization of the keratin cytoskeleton in epithelial cells by treatment with specific antimitotic drugs provides new means to investigate the role of keratin in cytoskeletal function and organization.