Cytokeratin 14 is part of the keratin family, which consists of about 20 different cytokeratin isotypes in human cells . These proteins form intermediate filaments, which are essential components of the cytoskeleton. CK14 pairs with keratin 5 (KRT5) to form a heterodimer, which then assembles into keratin filaments . The nonhelical tail domain of CK14 is involved in promoting the self-organization of KRT5-KRT14 filaments into large bundles, enhancing the mechanical properties and resilience of keratin intermediate filaments .
CK14 is a valuable marker in the diagnosis and differentiation of various epithelial tumors. It is particularly useful in distinguishing squamous cell carcinomas from poorly differentiated epithelial tumors . Additionally, CK14 is one of the specific basal markers for differentiating between basal and non-basal subtypes of breast carcinomas. It is also used to differentiate intraductal from invasive salivary duct carcinoma and to identify metaplastic carcinomas of the breast .
Human recombinant CK14 is produced using recombinant DNA technology, which involves inserting the gene encoding CK14 into a suitable expression system, such as bacteria or mammalian cells. This allows for the production of large quantities of CK14 protein, which can be used for research and diagnostic purposes. Recombinant CK14 retains the same structural and functional properties as the native protein, making it a valuable tool in various applications, including immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and ELISA .
Recombinant CK14 is widely used in research to study the biology of epithelial cells and the role of keratins in cell structure and function. It is also used in the development of diagnostic assays for detecting CK14 expression in tissue samples. These assays are important for the diagnosis and classification of epithelial tumors, as well as for monitoring the progression of diseases involving epithelial cells .