| 背景信息 |
Keratin 23 (Cytokeratin-23) is an acidic type I intermediate filament protein that maintains the structural integrity of epithelial cells through heterotypic pairing with type II keratins. Beyond its mechanical role, Keratin 23 is involved in the DNA damage response, telomerase regulation via hTERT binding, and the promotion of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. It is expressed in pancreatic and ductular cells and plays a significant role in cell proliferation and migration. Clinically, Keratin 23 is frequently upregulated in aggressive cancers, most notably colon adenocarcinoma, where its expression correlates with irradiation resistance and poor patient survival. It also serves as a specific marker for ductular cells in alcoholic hepatitis, where its levels correlate with injury repair and collagen production. Knockdown of Keratin 23 has been shown to reduce tumor cell viability, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target. |