title: Toward unraveling the complexity of simple epithelial keratins in human disease.
abstract: Simple epithelial keratins (SEKs) are found primarily in single-layered simple epithelia and include keratin 7 (K7), K8, K18-K20, and K23. Genetically engineered mice that lack SEKs or overexpress mutant SEKs have helped illuminate several keratin functions and served as important disease models. Insight into the contribution of SEKs to human disease has indicated that K8 and K18 are the major constituents of Mallory-Denk bodies, hepatic inclusions associated with several liver diseases, and are essential for inclusion formation. Furthermore, mutations in the genes encoding K8, K18, and K19 predispose individuals to a variety of liver diseases. Hence, as we discuss here, the SEK cytoskeleton is involved in the orchestration of several important cellular functions and contributes to the pathogenesis of human liver disease.
authors: Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. mbishr@umich.edu
authors: M Bishr
authors: MB
authors: Omary
authors: Nam-On
authors: NO
authors: Ku
authors: Pavel
authors: P
authors: Strnad
authors: Shinichiro
authors: S
authors: Hanada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009154:Mutation; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011506:Proteins / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C027596:Mallory body protein, human; D011506:Proteins; D007633:Keratins