The intermediate filament proteins of rabbit normal epidermal Merkel cells are cytokeratins.
Four hundred Merkel cells (MC) have been studied by double-label immunofluorescence using: (1) a monoclonal antibody which has been previously demonstrated to react with MC and (2) antisera and monoclonal antibodies against the 5 types of intermediate filaments. It was demonstrated that MC did not react with vimentin, desmin, glial acidic fibrillary protein, or neurofilament antisera. A strong staining of MC was observed with 2 antisera and 2 monoclonal antibodies against keratin. The cytokeratin polypeptide pattern of MC is probably similar to that of simple epithelia. These findings attest to the epithelial nature of MC.
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D007633:Keratins