Cytokeratin 14 Recombinant Mouse mAb (S-M0003)

Cytokeratin 14 (CK14) is an important member of the type I (acidic) keratin family, encoded by the KRT14 gene on human chromosome 17. It typically pairs with type II keratin 5 (CK5) as a heterodimer to form intermediate filament networks, and is primarily expressed in the basal layer of stratified squamous epithelia and their derivatives, including epidermal basal cells, outer root sheath of hair follicles, and myoepithelial cells. As a core component of the keratin pair, CK14 provides critical mechanical strength and tensile resistance to basal layer keratinocytes, while also participating in maintaining cell polarity and proliferative activity. At the molecular level, CK14 not only anchors cells to the basement membrane by interacting with linker molecules such as integrins and hemidesmosomal proteins, but also regulates cell cycle, apoptosis, and signal transduction pathways (e.g., the ERK pathway), thereby influencing the differentiation fate of keratinocytes. Clinically, mutations in the KRT14 gene are the primary cause of epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS), a disease characterized by blistering and erosion of the skin following minor mechanical trauma, manifesting as increased fragility of basal cells and disruption of the cytoskeletal structure. Furthermore, the expression profile of CK14 holds significant value in tumor pathological diagnosis. As a marker of basal cell phenotype, it is positively expressed in basal cell carcinoma, myoepithelioma, certain subtypes of breast cancer, and prostate basal-like carcinoma, while its expression is downregulated in differentiated regions of squamous cell carcinoma. Notably, CK14 has also been found to be dynamically upregulated during cutaneous wound healing, promoting keratinocyte migration and re-epithelialization. In inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis, aberrant expression of CK14 is closely associated with epidermal hyperproliferation. In summary, CK14, as a key structural protein of the epidermal basal layer, plays multiple roles in maintaining skin barrier integrity, participating in tumor pathological diagnosis, and mediating skin repair and disease processes.